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i . 
0 ' 


1. 


Mental  Gymnastics, 


LESSONS  ON  pWlORY, 


J^lDJiL.1^  li-dIZIjXjIBR.,  Zdl.  ID. 

AUTHOR  OF 


Life  {ft  Other  Worlds;  Plain  Talk  to  the  Sick;  Mistakes  of 
Doctors;  Laconography^  etc. 


FIFTH  EDITIOlSr. 


CHICAGO: 

1887. 


INSTRUCTIONS.  - 


After  reading  the  first  chapter,  commence  the 
study  of  the  system  on  p.  21,  and  make  yourself  es- 
pecially familiar  with  the  letters  representing  num- 
bers. Your  memory  will  be  strengthened  with  the 
first  effort  to  recollect  the  relation  between  letters 
and  figures.  The  22d  and  23d  pages  will  explain  the 
phonetic  sounds  that  correspond  with  the  letters  that 
stand  for  numbers. 

When  familiar  with  the  second  chapter  commence 
the  study  of  the  100  words  on  pp.  24  and  25,  and, 
with  a little  practice,  you  will  soon  be  able  to  tell  the 
numbers  on  hearing  the  words.  Then  go  through 
Vllth  and  Vlllth  chapters  in  the  same  way;  keep  a 
pencil  and  paper  at  hand,  write  the  numbers  from 
the  words,  and  this  will  soon  make  you  familiar 
with  the  letters  and  their  homo-phonetic  sounds, 
which  will  invariably  give  you  the  correct 
numbers.  As  your  memory  gains  strength  in  this 
direction  it  will  become  stronger  in  every  respect, 
especially  for  retaining  names  and  committing  to 
memory  anything  you  may  wish  to  keep  in  your 
memory’s  storehouse.  The  improvement  may  be 
slow  at  first,  but  by  persevering  effort  you  will  most 
assuredly  reap  the  reward  of  your  labor  by  obtain- 
ing a renewed  vigor  of  body  and  mind. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


£ntered  according’  to  Act  of  Con'^ress.  Copyright  secured  in  the  year 
18S5,  by  Adam  Millkk. 


PREFACE. 


The  author  of  this  work  does  not  claim  to  have 
originated  an  entirely  new  system  for  the  cultivation 
of  the  memory.  But  he  does  claim  to  have  simpli- 
fied some  of  the  old  and  complex  systems  contained 
in  books  now  out  of  print;  or  in  large  and  expensive 
volumes,  not  in  the  reach  of  those  most  interested  in 
this  subject. 

Several  small  works  have  been  published,  based 
on  the  writings  of  Prof.  Francis  Fauvel-Gourand,  and 
almost  literally  copied  from  his  work  without  giving 
him  credit  for  his  arduous  labors  in  this  department 
of  literature.  Writers  on  this  subject  have  left  it  in 
such  obscurity,  that  persons,  after  purchasing  the 
books,  have  laid  them  away  as  useless;  because  they 
could  not  understand  the  few  brief  and  indefinite 
sketches  called  memory  lessons. 

The  following  pages  have  been  arranged  with 
new  and  original  formulas  by  the  author,  more  with 
a view  to  instruct  the  student  in  the  noble  faculty  of 
memory,  than  to  embellish  the  pages  with  fine  lan- 
guage and  obscure  expressions. 

We  aim  to  make  the  subject  as  plain  as  possible^ 
and  to  bring  it  within  the  comprehension  of  ordinary 
minds,  so  as  to  lead  the  student  from  the  first  simple 
lessons  to  the  more  complex  without  mental  strain  or 
effort,  and  by  these  mental  gymnastics  gradually  to 
increase  the  strength  of  the  memory.  Instead  of  a 

(3) 


680040 


iv 


PREFACE. 


severe  strain  it  will  be  a mental  recreation  and  amuse- 
ment,  and  will  prepare  the  mind  for  more  arduous 
labors  in  other  departments  of  study. 

The  object  is  to  bring  the  subject  within  the  reach 
of  all  classes,  and  to  make  the  study  interesting  and 
profitable  to  all.  There  is  no  business  in  life,  and  no 
department  in  literature,  where  a well  cultivated 
memory  may  not  be  turned  to  a good  account. 

Our  capacity  for  any  kind  of  business  is  increased 
in  proportion  as  our  memory  is  able  to  retain  the 
details  of  our  business. 

These  lessons  are  valuable  to  those  who  are  study- 
ing any  system  of  short-hand  writing,  and  especially 
to  the  system  called  Laconography. 

The  author,  now  advanced  beyond  the  ordinary 
years  allotted  to  men  in  this  life,  has  so  cultivated  his 
memory,  that  it  is  much  stronger  and  more  reliable 
than  it  was  in  the  earlier  years  of  his  life,  and  all  as 
the  result  of  the  training  recommended  in  these  pages. 
A well  employed  and  active  mind  and  a good 
memory  well  stored  with  useful  knowledge  are  very 
important  factors  in  human  happiness. 

While  it  does  not  bring  back  the  years  that  have 
passed  into  the  future,  it  lifts  the  mind  above  the 
wasting  influences  of  time  to  a great  extent,  and  often 
' turns  the  gloomy  winter  of  old  age  into  the  warmth 
and  brightness  of  a summer’s  morning.  It  will  help 
to  smooth  the  wrinkles  of  a furrowed  brow,  and  give 
intelligent  expression  to  the  eye  that  is  growing  dim 
with  age.  Try  the  process  we  recommend,  and  you 
will  be  satisfied.  A.  M. 


CHAPTER  L 


GENERAL  REMARKS  ON  MEMORY. 

Without  memory  our  lives  w'ould  be  a dreary 
waste.  The  past  would  be  a blank.  The  present  a 
fretful  and  perplexing  hour.  Without  a recollection 
of  the  past  we  would  find  very  little  encouragement 
in  looking  into  the  future.  With  the  storehouse  of  our 
memories  well  filled  with  past  events,  many  pleasant 
scenes  of  our  past  lives  are  brought  in  review  before  us. 
Even  our  sufferings  and  disappointments,  when  rec- 
ollected in  connection  with  the  relief  that  may  have 
come  to  us,  and  our  deliverance  from  the  apparent 
accidents  and  dangers  to  which  we  found  ourselves 
exposed,  all  have  a tendency  to  encourage  us  for  the 
future.  A recollection  that  the  same  or  similar  help 
may  come  to  us  in  the  future  that  sustained  us  in  the 
past,  will  enable  us  to  move  forward  in  the  struggles 
of  life  and  trust  in  the  same  powers  and  forces  for  : 
protection  that  sustained  us  in  the  past.  All  persons 
are  endowed  with  this  faculty,  but  some  in  a much 
higher  degree  than  otliers.  While  there  are  natural 
endowments,  and  some  have  much  better  memories 
than  others,  it  is  undeniably  true  that  by  neglecting  to 
exercise  and  cultivate  this  faculty  it  becomes  enfeebled, 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  by  a proper  course  of  train- 
(5) 


6 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


ing  and  a systematic  exercise,  the  memory  may  be 
strengthened  beyond  the  highest  conceptions  of  those 
who  have  not  made  suitable  and  systematic  efforts  in 
this  direction.  The  reason  why  many  persons  in  ad- 
vanced years  complain  of  a feeble  memory  is  an  in- 
attention to  the  common  concerns  of  life,  and  a want 
oi*  effort  to  treasure  up  the  ordinary  occurrences.  The 
idea  of  many  that  because  they  have  lived  a certain 
number  of  years  and  arrived  at  an  age  where  the 
mental  faculties  generally  become  enfeebled,  has 
caused  many  to  feel  prematurely  old,  and  a general 
loss  of  bodily  and  mental  vigor  follows  a determina- 
tion that  it  must  be  so,  because  it  is  the  natural  order 
of  things.  Many  live  and  finally  go  down  to  their 
graves  without  being  aware  of  the  wonderful  unde- 
veloped powers  they  possessed,  which,  if  they  had 
been  properly  cultivated,  would  have  contributed 
much  to  the  support  of  the  physical  organism.  There 
is  such  an  intimate  connection  between  the  body  and 
the  mind  that  the  lack  of  a proper  treatment  of  the 
one  will  unfavorably  affect  the  other. 

We  have  gymnastics  for  physical  culture  and  find, 
from  experience  and  observation,  that  much  is  gained 
by  a proper  exercise  in  muscular  development. 

The  memory  is  more  susceptible  to  improvement 
by  proper  exercise  and  training,  than  the  body.  It  is 
that  which  possesses  the  body,  and  is  destined  to  sur- 
vive its  final  dissolution  and  decay.  The  dweller  in 
the  house  is  of  more  importance  than  the  house,  so 
the  mind  of  man,  of  which  memory  is  a part,  is  of 
more  importance  than  the  body  in  which  it  dwells. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


7 


We  talk  of  a mind  well  stored  with  knowledge, 
but  we  must  not  forget  that  memory  is  the  store- 
keeper, and  not  only  holds  the  key  to  the  storehouse 
but  arranges  all  the  shelves  and  drawers  and  the  dif- 
ferent compartments  for  storing  away  the  treasure 
accumulated  by  mental  efforts.  The  mind  selects  and 
brings  in  the  treasures,  sometimes  secures  them  by 
hardest  toil  and  perilous  efforts.  The  memory  takes 
the  treasures  and  stores  them  away  on  different  and 
appropriate  shelves,  or  in  different  drawers,  and  so 
marks  them  and  the  place  where  they  are  deposited, 
that  they  can  be  looked  at  any  time  when  they  are 
wanted. 

What  advantage  would  we  have  in  the  accumu- 
lation of  wealth  in  silver  and  gold  and  diamonds  and 
other  precious  things  that  make  men  rich,  if  we 
brought  them  home  and  handed  them  over  to  our 
steward  or  servant  for  safe  keeping,  and  he  put  them 
where  they  never  could  be  found?  Suppose  a man 
had  millions  on  millions  of  treasures  hidden  in  this 
way  that  he  nor  no  one  else  could  ever  find;  what 
advantage  would  they  be  to  him  ? None.  He  might 
say  I have  lost  them  because  I have  not  provided  a 
proper  place  to  store  them  away.  I had  no  system- 
atic arrangement  in  my  treasure  house,  and  now  they 
are  forever  beyond  my  reach.  In  this  way,  from  a 
want  of  a properly  arranged  house  to  store  away  the 
treasures  of  the  mind,  thousands  of  precious  gems 
have  been  lost.  We  may  deeply  regret  the  loss,  but 
this  will  not  return  to  us  the  lost  treasures.  The 
only  safe  and  proper  way  is  to  guard  against  these 


8 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY, 


losses  in  the  future.  Why  have  safes  with  various 
compartments  been  invented,  with  bars  and  bolts  and 
locks,  but  to  protect  our  goods  from  the  hands  of  the 
thief  and  the  robber,  and  also  with  a view  to  have 
them  at  our  command  at  a moment’s  notice  for  our  use  ? 

The  thief  of  time  is  watching  us  every  hour  to 
snatch  away  the  accumulations  of  our  mental  toil. 
Much  has  been  taken  from  us  and  laid  in  the  grave 
of  oblivion,  but  there  are  still  vast  outlying  fields 
where  we  can  gather  more,  and  there  are  means  pro- 
vided to  keep  our  gathered  treasures  securely. 

But  some  one  advanced  in  years  may  say,  “ I am 
too  old  to  commence  building  a storehouse  to  treasure 
up  my  mental  wares.”  Y ou  need  not  build  a new  house. 
The  old  one  is  good  enough  if  you  will  only  go  to 
work  and  make  some  repairs;  and  when  you  begin 
this  repairing  process  you  will  be  surprised  to  find 
how  easy  the  task  will  be.  The  sweeping  out  of  a 
few  dark  corners  of  the  old  building  will  soon  throw 
light  over  other  parts. 

The  opening  of  a few  windows  will  let  in  the  light 
and  make  everything  cheerful  about  the  old  home- 
stead where  the  higher  nature  has  long  dwelt  in 
gloom  and  sadness  because  the  house  was  so  much 
out  of  repair. 

How  sad  it  is  to  think  that  thousands  of  persons, 
when  they  arrive  at  the  age  of  forty-five  or  fifty 
years,  think  that  their  time  of  improvement  is  past, 
and  under  this  impression  they  neglect  mental  culture, 
and  with  this  neglect  the  body  soon  becomes  like  a 
house  uncared  for. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


9 


We  build  the  house  we  live  in,  that  is,  our  inner 
and  higher  nature  to  such  an  extent  controls  organic 
matter  so  as  to  build  up  and  nourish  those  parts  most 
suited  for  mental  activity,  where  no  other  abnormal 
or  disturbing  agencies  interfere.  This  is  especially, 
true  in  reference  to  the  growth  and  development  of 
the  brain,  which  is  the  seat  of  mental  power.  Proper 
training  not  only  improves  the  mind  but  enlarges  the 
dwelling  place  where  the  mind  resides,  acts,  and 
operates. 

The  bright,  expressive  and  speaking  eye;  the  ele- 
vated forehead;  the  intelligent  features;  all  indicate 
an  intelligent  working  power  or  force  superintending 
the  material  organization.  This  working  force  in 
the  intellectual  realm  is  under  the  control  of  the 
human  will.  If  we  determine  that  the  mind  shall  lie 
dormant  and  the  memory  shall  become  feeble  and 
inactive  from  a want  of  proper  exercise,  the  inevitable 
results  will  follow.  On  the  other  hand,  if  we 
determine  that  the  memory  shall  be  retentive,  and 
that  the  shelves  in  our^  memory’s  storehouse  shall 
keep  our  deposited  treasures,  we  have  only  to 
keep  these  shelves  and  drawers  in  good  order,  and 
have  our  deposits  so  marked  and  labeled  as  to  find 
them  at  any  time  we  may  wish  to  use  them.  If  we  can 
not  immediately  find  the  key  to  unlock  our  repository 
and  find  the  gems  of  thought,  and  all  the  beautiful 
and  useful  things  of  the  past,  we  must  tie  a string  to 
the  treasure  and  keep  the  string  in  view,  and  when 
we  get  bewildered  and  confused  we  can  follow  up  the 
string  or  wind  it  up  into  a ball,  till  it  leads  up  to  our 


lO 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


repository,  and  to  the  very  drawer  or  shelf  where  our 
treasures  may  be  found.  If  we  have  many  shelves 
in  memory’s  storehouse,  and  a great  variety  of  different 
things  stowed  away,  and  these  of  different  qualities, 
and  require  many  strings  by  which  to  trace  our  way 
to  our  hidden  treasures,  we  can  very  easily  attach  a 
mark  or  place  a label  on  the  end  of  each  string,  each 
separate  mark  directing  up  to  the  object  we  wish  to 
find. 

There  are  many  plain  and  simple  things  that  the 
mind  may  be  placed  on,  and  that  the  memory  can 
retain,  that  may  be  well  compared  to  a single  thread, 
and  by  association  of  one  thing  with  another,  either 
from  a striking  similarity  or  dissimilarity,  the  thread 
may  be  followed  by  winding  it  into  a ball  or  unwind- 
ing it  from  a ball. 

As  an  illustration  of  following  up  the  thread,  we 
will  commence  with  a white  woolen  thread:  The 
wool  leads  us  to  the  sheep.  The  sheep  is  an  em- 
blem of  innocence;  here  we  come  into  a large  field, 
innocence,  playfulness,  pastures,  flocks,  woolen  gar- 
ments, cold  weather,  blankets,  carpets  and  ornamented 
parlors.  Or,  if  we  wish  to  run  in  another  direction, 
the  thread  will  lead  us  to  mutton,  to  a good  dinner; 
to  the  dinner  party;  to  the  names  of  those  present;  to 
their  conversation;  and  many  other  things  we  may 
wish  to  bring  in  review  before  us. 

A silk  thread  will  lead  us  to  the  silkworm,  the 
mulberry  tree,  the  manufacturing  establishment,  the 
silk  dress,  the  beautiful  lady  that  we  saw  wearing  it, 
her  sparkling  eye,  her  wit,  her  diamonds,  her  language. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


II 


home,  fortunes  or  misfortunes,  all  from  the  end  of  a 
small  silk  thread. 

A cotton  thread  will  lead  us  to  the  cotton  fields,  the 
^spinning  and  weaving,  the  factory  girls  employed  in 
the  mills,  the  great  variety  of  cotton  goods,  the  sails 
of  ships,  a trip  across  the  ocean,  the  commerce  of  dif- 
ferent and  distant  countries,  the  ties  that  bind  nations 
in  one  common  brotherhood. 

A linen  thread  will  conduct  us  back  to  the  field 
where  flax  grows,  to  the  spinning  and  weaving  of 
linen,  to  Irish  linen,  to  the  thousands  of  toilers  who 
produce  the  beautiful  fabric,  to  the  weaver  of  the 
linen,  to  the  rags  of  worn  out  garments,  to  the  paper 
mill  that  manufactures  the  rags  to  paper,  to  the  beau- 
tiful white  letter  paper  on  which  our  correspondence 
to  loved  ones  may  be  written. 

A hemp  string  leads  to  the  fields,  the  rope- walks 
where  it  is  manufactured  into  cords  and  ropes,  to  the 
rigging  of  a ship,  hauling  and  directing  the  sails, 
carrying  the  commerce  of  the  world  to  their  destined 
ports. 

A red,  or  scarlet  thread,  will  lead  us  to  something 
fiery  or  intense,  ardent,  high  tempered,  wars  and 
bloodshed,  or  such  things  as  will  incite  or  inflame 
the  passions. 

A blue  thread  will  lead  one’s  mind  up  to  the  pale 
blue  sky,  in  which  the  clouds  are  floating  and  behind 
which  the  stars  and  planets  appear  to  us  to  be  pursu- 
ing their  nightly  march;  we  think  of  distance  and  mag- 
nitude, of  time  measured  off  by  their  revolutions,  and 
in  bewildering  amazement  we  are  led  to  the  infinite 


12 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Power  that  controls  and  directs  all  things  from  an  in- 
finite purpose. 

A white  thread  is  the  emblem  of  innocence  and 
purity;  it  leads  us  to  the  lily  of  the  valley,  flourishing 
near  by  the  Rose  of  Sharon.  This  will  bring  to  the 
mind  a train  of  beautiful  and  lovely  things.  How  de- 
lightful in  the  stillness  of  the  night  to  take  hold  of  the 
beautiful  white  thread  and  begin  to  wind  it  up  into  a 
ball  or  follow  it  back  along  the  path  we  have  traveled 
until  we  get  back  to  the  .days  of  youth  and  childhood, 
and  have  the  innocent  amusements  of  our  younger 
years  pass  in  review  before  us. 

The  tear  of  sorrow  may  start  from  the  eye  at  the 
recollection  of  friends  long  since  gone  from  us;  but 
even  this  opening  of  the  fountains  of  aflfection  may 
bring  relief  in  the  hour  of  affliction. 

A black  thread  may  lead  us  into  the  dark,  but  dark- 
ness is  not  always  dismal.  It  is  necessary  for  us  as 
well  as  light.  Long  winter  evenings  bring  us  many 
comforts  that  we  could  not  have  under  the  rays  of 
the  burning  sun.  It  is  true  we  might  travel  along  the 
line  of  a dark  thread  into  dismal  and  gloomy  regions, 
but  we  should  always  prefer  to  go  along  the  line  of 
the  pleasant  and  the  beautiful  to  feed  the  memory  on 
^hat  which  will  give  us  higher  views  of  our  lives  and 
destinies. 

The  questions  may  arise  in  the  minds  of  some, 
‘‘ What  will  be  the  advantage  of  all  this?”  ‘‘What 
can  I do  without  an  active  memory  to  follow  up  these 
different  threads?”  We  can  easily  see  where  the  ad- 
vantage of  such  a mental  exercise  is  found.  It  is  an 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


13 


effort  to  build  up  and  strengthen  the  memory,  or  pre- 
pare the  different  shelves  in  this  storehouse  for  reposi- 
tories of  our  mental  wares.  Instead  of  leaving  the 
mind  a vacant  blank  and  tossing  restless  upon  our 
beds  in  the  stillness  of  the  night,  we  may  start  the 
wheels  of  memory  running  backward  over  the  past, 
and  stop  at  the  different  way  stations  with  such 
delight  and  pleasure  that  we  will  soon  be  lulled  to 
sleep,  perchance  to  dream  some  pleasant  dreams,  and 
awake  with  better  opinions  of  life  than  when  our 
minds  were  blank  and  the  shelves  of  our  memories’ 
storehouses  in  a dilapidated  condition. 

Now  we  would  advise  any  one  in  lonely  hours  to 
take  hold  of  the  end  of  a string,  one  of  those  we  have 
referred  to;  the  white  for  instance,  and  start  back  in 
a contemplative  mood  and  stop  to  linger  awhile, 
around  every  point  of  innocence,  beauty  and  purity. 
Then  let  it  stretch  out  into  the  future.  Follow  it  up 
and  on  until  it  reaches  within  the  very  gates  of  the 
celestial  city,  or,  if  you  do  not  wish  to  go  quite  so  far 
just  now,  then  take  another  thread  and  follow  it  along 
the  line  of  which  it  is  emblematical.  Do  not  hasten 
too  fast  from  one  point  to  another.  When  you  find 
some  event  in  your  past  life  linger  around  it  as  long  as  [ 
pleasant  memories  continue  to  come  up,  in  group  or^ 
single,  and  then  pass  on  to  other  points;  and  in  this! 
way  the  scenes  of  the  past  will  come  up  in  succession 
as  old  associates  that  had  appeared  lost  to  you,  and 
entirely  faded  from  your  memory.  To  those  who 
have  never  made  an  effort  to  recollect  the  scenes  of 
the  past  by  such  associations  it  will  be  surprising  to 


14  LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 

find  the  mind  pictures  like  beautiful  panoramas  pass 
in  review  before  them. 

The  memory  is  like  the  blacksmith’s  arm,  which 
has  grown  strong  from  using  it.  There  is  no  faculty 
of  the  human  mind  so  susceptible  of  improvement  as 
the  memory,  and  none  so  much  neglected. 

Some  persons  are  naturally  endowed  with  good 
memories,  while  others  are  deficient,  and  must  depend 
on  culture  for  improvement. 

Before  letters  were  invented  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
cording the  events  of  life  and  our  historic  narratives, 
the  memory  must  have  been  much  stronger  than  it  is 
now.  The  transactions  and  constantly  recurring 
events  of  life  had  to  be  carried  in  the  memory  instead 
of  recorded  in  books. 

Many  of  the  historical  narratives  now  found  in 
books  of  history,  both  sacred  and  profane,  must  have 
been  preserved  in  the  storehouse  of  memory  for  ages 
before  they  were  permanently  recorded  in  books  now 
found  in  our  libraries. 

There  are  many  marvelous  instances  on  record  of 
extraordinary  memories  among  the  ancients.  It  would 
be  out  of  place  here  to  enter  into  a detailed  account 
of  the  different  prodigies  of  memory.  Speeches 
were  committed  from  once  having  been  heard, 
lectures,  poems,  and  the  most  difficult  problems  the 
human  mind  can  grapple  with,  have  been  retained  in 
the  memory  from  having  only  once  heard  them  re- 
peated. But  these  are  rare  instances,  and  not  a com- 
mon inheritance  of  mankind.  The  amount  of  mem- 
ory we  have  is  a natural  endowment,  or  a working 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


15 


capital  on  which  we  can  improve  to  a marvelous  ex- 
tent. With  every  advancement  we  make  we  increase 
our  stock  in  trade,  and  add  to  our  wealth  which  no 
thief  can  steal,  and  no  wreck  of  earthly  fortune  can 
destroy.  ^ 

Many  in  advanced  years  can  look  back  into  th^ 
past  and  still  see  some  of  the  treasures  in  the  store- 
house of  memory,  laid  there  in  their  youthful  days; 
but  with  regret  have  to  confess  that  recent  events  soon 
pass  from  their  memories,  and  that  they  have  no 
power  to  retain  them.  These  persons  may  recollect 
the  beautiful  flowers  that  grew  in  well  cultivated  gar- 
dens and  fields ; but  these  are  now  a desert  waste 
from  a want  of  proper  cultivation. 

The  mental  effort  in  associating  one  thing  with 
something  that  has  a correspondence  with  some  his- 
toric event,  so  as  to  call  to  mind  not  only  the  event 
itself  but  furnish  a word  that  will  give  the  exact  and 
unmistakable  date  of  the  event,  must  have  in  itself  a 
good  effect  on  the  memory. 

It  is  this  habit  of  associating  one  thing  with  another 
that  gives  a healthy  exercise  to  the  brain,  by  which 
its  functions  are  strengthened,  and  also  has  a salutary 
effect  on  the  entire  physical  human  organism.  The 
first  symptoms  of  decline  are  seen  in  the  loss  of  men- 
tal vigor.  This  affects  very  unfavorably  the  entire 
nervous  system,  and  the  intimate  connection  be^- 
tween  the  nerves  and  the  muscular  structure  soon 
causes  a general  breaking  down  of  all  the  physical 
energies. 

There  are  many  persons  whose  mental  vigor  is  as 


i6 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


strong  from  sixty-five  to  seventy-five  years  of  age  as 
in  their  youthful  days;  but  upon  inquiry  it  will  be 
found  that  all  such  persons  have  kept  their  minds 
actively  employed  and  cultivated,  especially  the  fac- 
ulty of  remembering  things. 

In  conversation  with  a lady  of  superior  intelligence 
and  attainments,  not  long  since,  she  told  me  that  in 
consequence  of  a long  and  severe  illness  she  lost  her 
memory.  On  her  health  returning  she  found  she 
could  not  recollect  the  commonest  events  of  life.  At 
this  she  became  alarmed  and  immediately  commenced 
a systematic  course  of  cultivating  her  memory.  She 
now  has  a good  memory,  but  told  me,  ‘‘It  is  all  culti- 
vated.” Had  she  not  been  endowed  with  a strong 
will  power,  and  superior  intelligence,  what  would 
have  be6n  the  result?  The  answer  to  this  question 
is  plain.  This  lady,  thus  deprived  of  her  memory, 
would  have  relapsed  into  a state  of  imbecility,  border- 
ing on  idiocy,  if  she  had  not  determined  to  regain  her 
lost  memory  by  a systematic  effort  to  obtain  this  de- 
sirable end. 

The  restoring  process  of  the  wonderfully  con- 
structed organism  must  not  be  attempted  by  a severe 
strain  on  the  body  or  mind;  but  by  a gentle,  easy  and 
systematic  training.  This  cannot  be  forced  by  slash- 
ing and  driving;  but  by  a process  that  will  conserve 
the  remaining  forces  and  add  new  powers  to  those 
already  possessed. 

Close  observation  and  experience  have  taught  us 
valuable  lessons  on  this  subject. 

There  are  some  persons  now  in  advanced  years 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


17 


with  memory  fully  as  strong,  if  not  stronger  than  it 
w^s  in  the  earlier  days  of  their  lives.  They  can  look 
back  on  the  line  along  which  they  have  traveled,  and 
not  only  see  the  wrecks  and  ruin  of  thousands  that 
have  prematurely  fallen  in  their  journey  from  a want 
of  attention  to  some  plain  rules  that  should  govern 
our  two-fold  nature  of  matter  and  spirit,  or  body  and 
mind;  but  also  see  where  their  own  feet  had  ventured 
•near  the  precipice  where  thousands  have  fallen. 

It  is  not  intended  here  to  convey  the  idea  that  we 
can  make  ourselves  immortal,  so  far  as  our  existence 
on  this  earth  is  concerned,  by  memory,  or  mental  cul- 
ture. It  is  simply  purposed  to  show  that  by  proper 
observance  of  certain  laws  we  may  prolong  our  lives, 
and  make  them  more  pleasant  to  ourselves,  and  more 
agreeable  to  others. 

When  men  have  valuable  machinery  or  mechanical 
contrivances  which  they  run  for  profit  or  pleasure 
they  will  carefully  notice  every  symptom  of  disturb- 
ance in  the  movement  of  the  different  wheels,  springs 
and  weights,  well  knowing  that  if  repairs  are  not 
promptly  attended  to  the  whole  will  soon  run  down 
and  become  a mass  of  useless  material.  Why  not 
watch  with  eager  eye  the  marvelous  workings  of  this 
complex  structure  of  the  human  organism  which  can 
only  retain  the  higher  or  spiritual  power  by  keeping 
in  a good  running  condition. 

The  structure  of  the  nervous  system  in  the  human 
constitution  contains  in  itself  a world  of  wonders. 
These  channels  of  our  vital  forces  have  been  laid  with 
a master  hand,  and  their  healthy  operations  have  been 


i8 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


left  to  our  guardian  care,  and  we  are,  to  a certain  ex- 
tent, responsible  for  this  trust.  In  mechanics  we 
know  that  machinery  is  liable  to  rust  and  become  use- 
less from  a want  of  proper  attention;  even  our  finest 
ornaments  need  occasional  burnishing  and  polishing 
to  keep  their  brilliancy  and  luster.  Everything  orna- 
mental and  useful  demands  attention  to  keep  it  in 
perfect  order.  How  much  more  should  we  be  con- 
cerned to  keep  the  noblest  faculty  of  our  higher 
nature  in  an  active  condition. 

When  we  awake  to  a sense  of  our  duty  to  our- 
selves, and  learn  how  to  take  care  of  and  preserve 
that  which  is  a natural  endowment  of  humanity,  we 
shall  hear  less  complaining  about  the  loss  of  memory 
and  its  consequent  annoyance  to  us  in  daily  life. 

We  speak  of  what  we  know.  These  rules  which 
we  recommend  to  others  are  not  the  wild  dreams  of  a 
fanciful  imagination.  They  are  the  result  of  careful 
observation  and  study  for  many  years.  Their  appli- 
cation can  only  result  in  good  to  all  who  make  the 
experiment  for  themselves. 

The  treasures  of  the  intellect  are  of  more  value 
than  all  the  hoarded  accumulations  of  material  wealth. 
We  carry  them  with  us,  not  only  through  this  life, 
but  to  the  believer  in  a conscious  existence  in  a future 
state  it  amounts  to  more  than  a mere  conjecture  that 
these  accumulated  treasures  of  useful  knowledge  will 
be  a rich  inheritance  to  us  in  that  unending  state  of 
existence  where  there  will  be  an  endless  progression 
in  knowledge,  and  increasing  knowledge  will  give 
increasing  power. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


i9 


The  cultivation  of  the  memory  can  only  be  accom- 
plished by  a systematic  effort  on  a well-defined  course 
of  instruction,  and  following  certain  rules  of  associa- 
tion connecting  one  thing  with  another,  so  as  to  find 
the  names,  places,  and  properties  of  things  by  attach- 
ing them  to  something  which  we  can  follow  along  the 
line  of  association. 


CHAPTER  IL 


PHONETIC  AND  HOMOPHONETIC  WORDS  FOR  FIGURES. 

We  commence  with  the  letters  of  the  alphabet 
which,  in  their  construction,  resemble  figures,  and  can 
be  used  for  numbers  to  any  desirable  extent.  Figures, 
when  standing  promiscuously  represent  nothing,  only 
as  they  are  used  as  numerators  of  objects,  or  to  ex- 
press numbers.  It  is  difficult  to  retain  figures  in  the 
memory,  especially  where  large  numbers  are  pre- 
sented, but  words  and  sentences  representing 
figures  can  easily  be  retained  in  the  memory.  In 
this  way  we  can  place  numbers,  dates,  chronological 
tables,  periods  of  important  events  in  history,  by 
selecting  a familiar  word  that  gives  us  the  desired 
number.  Familiar  phrases  may  be  selected  to  repre- 
sent any  desirable  amount  of  figures,  as  high  as  the 
mind  is  capable  of  running  them. 

Several  systems  have  been  invented  in  which  letters 
were  used  for  numbers;  but  no  one  has  approached 
so  near  to  a complete  system  as  Prof.  Gouraud. 

With  some  variations,  we  adopt  his  classification  of 
words  and  articulation  sounds  corresponding  with 
the  different  letters  to  represent  figures  and  numbers. 

The  resemblance  between  the  letters  and  figures 
will  help  the  memory  to  retain  them. 

(20) 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


21 


We  select  letters  from  our  English  alphabet  to 
represent  the  figures. 

o,  I,  2,  3,  4,  -5,  6,  7,  8,  9. 
z,  t,  n,  m,  r,  1,  j,  k,  f,  p. 

The  similarity  between  the  figures  and  the  letters 
may  be  easily  recognized. 

The  first  articulation  of  z is  cipher  or  zero,  and 
represents  o.  This,  with  all  the  other ' letters  repre- 
senting figures,  has  the  vowel  e added  to  make  the  ar- 
ticulation complete. 

Z — or  ze,  is  the  first  articulation  of  zero^or  cipher  o. 


T — or  te,  with  one  single  stroke  represents  - - i. 

N — or  ne,  with  two  strokes  represents  - . - 2. 

M — or  me,  with  three  strokes  represents  - - - 3. 

R— or  re,  is  the  fourth  letter  of  four  - - - 4. 

L — or  le,  Roman  numeration,  is  50  - - • - 5. 

J — or  che-c  resembles  the  figure  6 - - - 6. 

K — or  ke,  form  of  key  upside  down,  resembles  7 7. 
F — or  fe,  the  written  f like  an  elongated  8 - • 8. 

P — or  pe,  inverted,  looks  like  9 9. 


In  addition  to  these  simple  articulations  of  single 
letters,  we  have  other  letters  and  combinations  of 
letters  that  resemble  these  sounds,  and  are  articulated 
accordingly. 

The  letter  d resembles  the  sound  of  t,  and  is  articu- 
lated the  same.  The  letter  j,  when  inverted,  bears 
some  resemblance  to  the  figure  6,  and  also  in  sound 
resembles  the  ch.  This,  and  the  soft  sound  of  g,  are 
articulated  like  and  represent  the  figure  6. 

The  s as  an  apostrophe,  in  the  possessive  case,  is 
not  articulated.  The  t,  before  h,  keeps  the  value  of 


22 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


t.  In  words  where  the  c takes  the  sound  of  k,  it  has 
the  articulation  of  k. 

In  all  words  where  the  vowels  a,  o,  u follow  c,  it 
takes  the  articulation  of  k,  and  when  the  sound  of  k 
is  distinctly  heard  it  represents  the  figure  7,  but  in 
words  where  the  k is  silent,  as  in  knowledge^  knight^ 
knifcy  etc.,  it  has  no  numerical  value.  The  hard 
sound  of  g,  as  in  go,  give,  good,  gloom,  glad,  etc.,  is 
articulated  like  k,  and  represents  7.  The  same  in 
words  ending  in  iiig.  The  b has  a sound  resembling 
p,  and  the  sound  is  produced  by  the  same  motion  of 
the  lips,  and  therefore  represents  the  figure  9. 

The  vowels  and  the  letters  h,  w,  and  y have  no  nu- 
merical value.  In  all  combinations  of  letters  where  any 
of  these  sounds  are  distinctly  recognized  they  are  ar- 
ticulated as  figures,  according  to  the  rules  above 
stated. 

For  instance,  in  cases  where  the  ph  has  the  sound 
of  f,  as  in  phosphorus,  photograph,  Philip,  the  p 
loses  its  distinct  sound  and  the  combination  with  h 
gives  the  sound  of  f,  and  represents  the  figure  8 


PHONETIC  SOUND. 

The  addition  of  the  vowel  e to  the  letters  articulated 
in  numbers  gives  the  phonetic  sounds  of 

te,  ne,  me,  re,  le,  che,  ke,  fe,  pe,  ce. 
b 2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  o. 

To  these  we  add 

che  6,  ge  7,  ghe,  que  7,  ve,  phe  8,  be  9,  ce  o. 

Where  two  identical  letters  come  together  in 
words  such  as  ?nall^  matter',,  will^  7nill^  the  two 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


23 


letters  are  articulated  as  one,  me  le  35,  fe  le  85,  me, 
te,  re,  314,  le  5,  me  le  35. 

Where  two  similar  letters  occur  with  two  distinct 
sounds,  both  sounds  are  articulated  into  figures  and 
have  their  numerical  value. 

The  word  suggest  is  translated  ge,  che,  se,  te,  7, 
6,  o,  I.  While  accident  will  be  translated  ke,  se,  de, 
ne,  te,  7,  o,  i,  2,  i.  The  same  rule  is  observed  in 
compound  words  having  two  similar  letters  joined  by 
a hyphen,  as  in  book-binder,  be,  ke,  be,  ne,  de,  re, 
979214. 

In  words  where  the  t occurs,  but  has  no  distinct 
sound,  it  is  of  no  numerical  value,  as  in  watch,  match, 
latch,  che  6,  me,  che  36,  le,  che,  56. 

These  rules,  with  some  variation,  are  according  to 
those  laid  down  in  Gouraud’s  Philosophical  Classifi- 
cation of  Homophonic  words  of  the  English  lan- 
guage, and  with  a little  attention  will  be  easily  un- 
derstood. 


CHAPTER  III. 


FIGURES  REPRESENTED  BY  LETTERS  AND  HOMO- 
PHONETIC  SOUNDS. 


The  following  table  gives  words  for  numbers  from 
I to  lOO. 

The  rule  for  representing  figures  by  words,  once 
understood,  will  enable  us  to  represent  any  number 
of  figures  in  statistical  tables  by  word  formulas,  or  to 
associate  some  object  with  any  of  these  numbers,  so 
as  to  recollect  it  in  order,  and  in  the  numbers  we 
associate  with  the  object. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

H 

15 

16 


Hat 

17  Deck 

33  Mummy 

49 

Harp 

Honey 

18  Dove 

34  Merry 

50 

Lass 

Home 

19  Top 

35  Mill 

51 

Lady 

Hero 

20  News 

36  Match 

52 

Lawn 

Hill 

21  Want 

37  Make 

53 

Elm 

Hush 

22  None 

38  Move 

54 

Lawyer 

Hack 

23  Name 

39  Map 

55 

Lily 

Hoof 

24  Near 

40  Horse 

56 

Lash 

Hip 

25  Nail 

41  Road 

57 

Elk 

Woods 

26  Inch 

42  Rain 

58 

Loaf 

Tide 

27  Ink 

43  Room 

59 

Leap 

Tin 

28  Knife 

44  Warrior 

60 

Cheese 

Tame 

29  Nap 

45  Rail 

61 

Shoot 

Deer 

30  Mouse 

46  Irish 

62 

Chain 

Dale 

31  Mouth 

47  Rock 

63 

Gem 

Dish 

32  Man 

48  Roof 

(24) 

64 

Cherry 

LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


25 


6s  Jelly 

74  Augur 

83  Foam 

92  Pin 

66  Shash 

75  Gale 

84  Fur 

93  Poem 

67  Cheek 

76  Cage 

85  Fowl 

94  Bower 

68  Chaff 

77  Keg 

86  Fish 

9S  Bell 

69  Ship 

78  Calf 

87  Fig 

96  Bush 

70  Kiss 

79  Cab 

88  Fife 

97  Bake 

71  Cat 

80  Face 

89  Fop 

98  Beef 

72  Gun 

81  Foot 

90  Posy 

99  Poppy 

73  Game 

82  Fan 

91  Pad 

100  Doses 

The  words  in  the  above  table  are  so  arranged  that 
it  will  be  comparatively  easy  to  commit  them  to 
memory.  This  task  being  accomplished,  the  figures 
which  the  words  represent  will  be  known  as  unmis- 
takably as  if  they  were  seen.  Any  object  to  be  remem- 
bered can  be  associated  with  the  word  giving  the 
number,  and  by  this  process  any  number  of  promis- 
cuous objects  can  be  remembered  in  the  order  in 
which  they  are  repeated  to  us,  from  i up  to  100. 

This  table  should  be  so  committed  to  memory  that 
when  the  figure  is  named  the  word  can  be  given,  and 
when  the  word  is  named  the  figure  can  be  given. 

Words  can  be  remembered  when  figures  and  num- 
bers would  be  forgotten. 

When  the  principle  of  representing  words  by 
figures  is  clearly  understood,  any  object  or  number  of 
objects  may  be  retained  in  the  memory  by  the  law  of 
association. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


MATHEMATICAL  PROBLEMS. 

Moving  the  knight  of  the  chess-board  to  sixty-four 
different  squares  without  going  twice  into  the  same 
square  until  it  returns  to  the  starting  point  at  num- 
ber one. 

It  is  said  that  this  interesting  problem  was  solved 
by  the  celebrated  mathematician,  Euler,  after  a 
number  of  years’  constant  experiment. 

The  chess-board  is  numbered  from  one  to  sixty-four 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

41 

42 

43 

44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51 

52 

53 

54 

55 

56 

57 

58 

59 

60 

61 

62 

63 

64 

(26) 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


27 


The  knight  will  have  to  pass  into  the  squares  in 
the  following  order,  starting  from  number  i,  move 
till  he  returns  to  the  same  number  without  stopping 
twice  in  the  same  square: 

I.  5>  151  32,  47»  64,  54,  60,  50,  35,  41,  26,  9,  3, 
i3»  7>  24,  39^  56,  62,  45,  30,  20,  37,  22,  28,  38,  21,  36, 
19,  25,  10,4,  14,  8,  23,  40,  55,  61,  51,  57,  42,  59,  53, 
63,  48,  31.  16,  6,  12,  2,  17,  34,  49,  43,  58,  52,  46,  29, 
44»  27,  33,  18,  I- 

When  the  key  to  this  problem  is  understood,  which 
can  easily  be  commited  to  memory,  any  one  can  re- 
tain all  these  figures  in  the  memory  in  the  order  in 
which  they  are  given  above. 

The  key  to  this  problem  will  be  found  in  another 
place. 

I have  taken  the  following  from  Francis  Fauvel- 
Gouraud’s  Philosophical  Classification  of  Homopho- 
netic  Words  of  the  English  language,  and  arranged  a 
formula  of  words  by  which  this  array  of  figures  can 
be  committed  and  retained  in  the  memory. 

Now  the  fact  that  a person  past  seventy-five  years 
of  age  can  accomplish  this  is  proof  that  this  system 
of  memorizing  is  plain,  and  that  the  task  is  easily 
accomplished. 

SECOND  PROBLEM  OF  THE  CHESS-PLAY. 

It  is  said  that  Sysla,  the  Brahmin  who  invented  the  chess  play 
having  caused  such  a high  satisfaction  to  Sirham,  the  Indian 
king  to  whom  he  first  presented  it,  the  king  told  him  to  ask  for 
any  favor  he  might  wish  in  recompense  for  his  brilliant  inven- 
tion. Sysla  modestly  asked  for  one  single  grain  of  wheats  geo- 
metrically doubled  upon  itself  from  the  first  square  of  the  chess- 
board down  to  the  last,  or  sixty  fourth.  The  king,  spurning 


28 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


what  he  judged  to  be  a nonsensical  petition,  unworthy  of  his 
royal  munificence,  ordered  his  grand  treasurer  to  deliver  up  to 
Sysla  one  million  of  measures  of  wheat,  or,  upon  the  choice 
of  Sysla,  the  sum  of  money  equivalent  to  the  price  of  the  same 
number  of  measures.  But  the  Brahmin  having  insisted  upon 
the  sacredness  of  the  royal  word  which  had  given  him  the 
choice  of  his  recompense,  upon  exarpination  it  was  found  that 
the  number  of  grains  upon  the  sixty-fourth  square  of  the  chess- 
board would  be 

Grains^  33893487503  i 74010930  ; 
and  as  one  pound  {avoirdufois)  of  wheat,  of  a good  quality, 
contains  an  average  of  13, 184  grains,  one  American  bushel,  or 
sixty  pounds,  will  contain  791,040  grains,  and  one  ton  or  2,000 
pounds,  26,368,000  grains.  Divide  the  whole  number  of  grains 
by  these  different  proportions,  and  we  find  that  it  contains,  in 
Pounds^  2570804573966475, 

Bushels^  4284674289944  I, 

Tons^  1 285402286983; 
which  would  be  worth,  at  $i  the  bushel,  or  $33.40  the  ton, 
$4284674289944  i; 
which  would  load  as  many  canal  boats  of  40  tons  as 

32135057174; 

or  as  many  vessels  of  300  tons,  as 

4284674289; 

which  would  make  as  many  loaves  of  bread,  of  one  pound,  as 
2570804573966475; 

and  which  would  feed  all  the  population  of  the  globe,  or  1,000- 
000,000  of  souls,  at  one  pound  a day,  or  365  pounds  a year  for 
each,  as  long  as 

7,  o 4 3 years,  209  days. 


EXPLANATION  IN  REFERENCE  TO  THE  KEY  TO  THE 
PROBLEM  OF  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  CHESS-BOARD. 

A certain  classification  of  words  will  give  the  homo- 
phonetic  sounds,  by  which  each  figure  or  number  may 
be  readily  distinguished. 

The  words  themselves  mean  nothing  but  the  rep- 
resentatives of  the  numbers  or  figures  passed  over  by 
the  knight  of  the  chess-board,  from  one  to  sixty-four. 
These  key  words  are  so  arranged  as  to  make  it  com- 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


29 


paratively  easy  to  remember  them  in  the  order  in 
which  they  stand. 

Bear  in  mind  that  the  vowels  and  the  consonants 
h and  w have  no  numerical  value,  and  other  letters 
take  the  numerical  value  of  the  first  class  of  letters  that 
have  a similarity  to  the  figures,  on  account  of  their 
homophonetic  analysis,  or  similarity  in  sound.  The 
ch  combination  resembles  g,  or  g soft  represents  the 
figure  6,  while  the  hard  sound  of  g,  and  the  c when 
followed  by  a,  o,  or  u,  and  in  all  cases  where  it  takes 
the  sound  of  k,  represents  the  figure  7,  while  c,  before 
i,  and  in  all  cases  where  it  has  the  sound  of  z,  repre- 
sents the  zero  or  cipher  o sound. 

The  d,  V,  and  b,  represent  the  same  figures  as  t,  f, 
and  p,  from  similarity  of  sound.  Any  letter  repre- 
senting a figure  has  no  numerical  value  when  it  is  si- 
lent, or  its  sound  is  not  distinctly  heard,  as  t,  in  watch. 
Here  the  ch  sound  is  distinct,  but  the  t sound  indis- 
tinct, and  represents  6,  and  not  16,  as  it  would  if  the 
t had  a distinct  sound.  The  k,  in  knife,  knock, 
etc.,  has  no  numerical  value.  The  1,  in  calf,  and  in  all 
words  where  it  is  silent,  has  no  numerical  value.  In 
the  word  laugh  we  have  the  1 and  f sound,  which 
represent  58. 

With  these  explanations  we  give  the  key  to  the 
problem  of  the  knight  of  the  chess-board. 

By  the  above  explanation  it  will  be  an  easy  task 
to  understand  how  the  following  words  will  conduct 
the  knight  to  64  different  squares  without  passing 
twice  into  the  same  square. 


30 


LESSONS  ON  memory. 


The  key  words  are: 

Hat,  tide,  hill,  dale,  moon,  rock,  Jewry,  lawyer. 
Cheese,  less,  mill,  rat,  inch,  pie. 

Home,  time,  key,  honor,  mop,  lash. 

John,  rule,  miss,  niece,  make,  none,  enough. 
Move,  not,  much,  top,  nail. 

Does,  your,  dear,  wife,  name,  rose,  lily. 

Shoot,  wild,  elk. 

Run,  leap,  lame,  Jim. 

Rough,  maid,  teach,  joy. 

Dine,  honey,  dig,  merry. 

Europe,  army,  love,  lion,  Irish,  nap. 

Horror,  Yankee,  mummy,  doff,  hat. 


CHAPTER  V. 


We  have  already  referred  to  a proper  training 
of  the  memory  to  give  it  strength,  the  same  as  we 
train  our  physical  organism,  to  develop  and  strengthen 
the  muscles  of  the  body.  The  mind  needs  pleasant 
and  healthful  recreation,  as  much  as  the  body.  We 
do  not  send  invalids  to  solitary  wastes  and  deserts  of 
inhospitable  climates,  where  the  mind  is,  in  a man- 
ner, compelled  to  dwell  on  the  gloomy  surroundings, 
but  we  recommend  them  to  the  regions  of  sunshine, 
where  there  is  healthy  atmosphere,  and  where  there 
are  pleasant  surroundings — where  the  fragrance  of 
flowers  and  the  melody  of  song  and  other  cheering 
influences  contribute  much  to  build  up  and  keep  in 
good  repair  the  tabernacle  in  which  the  mind  dwells, 
and  through  which  it  acts. 

There  is,  undoubtedly,  much  truth  in  the  system 
of  treating  the  sick,  commonly  called  “ mind  cure,” 
or  psychopathy,  as  some  call  it.  The  mind  has  a con- 
trolling influence  over  the  body,  and  the  physical  con- 
ditions over  the  mind,  as  well.  As  positive  and  nega- 
tive electrical  conditions  control  the  universal  empire 
of  matter,  so  mind  in  nature  has  a controlling  in- 
fluence in  the  operations  of  nature. 

Science  is  just  now  looking  for  the  first  stepping 
stone  in  an  effort  to  solve  the  mysterious  problem  of 

(31) 


32 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


human  life.  One  solid  truth  after  another  will  finally 
be  discovered,  and  humanity  will  reap  the  benefit  of 
our  advaneement  in  knowledge.  Persevering  efforts 
will  finally  enable  us  to  solve  many  of  the  apparent 
mysteries  connected  with  our  present  mode  of  exisl- 
tence.  Nature  furnishes  us  with  an  abundance  of  ob- 
jects for  mental  gymnastics,  and  we  have  only  to  pass 
through  her  vast  Alhambra  with  our  eyes  open  to  see 
her  beauties,  and  our  ears  open  to  hear  her  melodies ; 
and  our  minds  receptive  to  receive  the  impress  which 
the  Infinite  Author  of  Nature  is  ready  always  to  make 
upon  the  mind  thirsting  and  longing  for  knowledge. 

The  following,  from  Southey,  is  a difficult  piece 
to  remember  by  an  ordinary  effort  of  the  memory. 
In  the  exercise  of  mental  gymnastics  it  became  an 
easy  and  interesting  task,  not  only  to  commit  the 
whole  to  memory,  but  to  know  each  line  from  the 
number  standing  before  it: 

THE  CATARACT  OF  LODORE. 

1.  Here  it  comes  sparkling, 

2.  And  there  it  lies  darkling; 

3.  Here  smoking  and  frothing, 

4.  Its  tumult  and  wrath  in, 

5.  It  hastens  along,  conflicting  and  strong. 

6.  Now  striking  and  raging, 

7.  As  if  a war  waging, 

8.  Its  caverns  and  rocks  among. 

9.  Rising  and  leaping, 

10.  Sinking  and  creeping, 

11,  Swelling  and  flinging, 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


33 


12.  Showering  and  springing, 

13.  Eddying  and  whisking, 

14.  Sprouting  and  frisking, 

15.  Turning  and  twisting, 

16.  Around  and  around, 

17.  Collecting,  disjecting 

18.  With  endless  rebound; 

19.  Smiting  and  fighting, 

20.  A sight  to  delight  in; 

21.  Confounding,  astounding, 

22.  Dizzying  and  deafening  the  ear  with  its 

sound. 

23.  Reeding  and  speeding 

24.  And  shocking  and  rocking, 

25.  And  darting  and  parting, 

26.  And  threading  and  spreading, 

27.  And  whizzing  and  hissing, 

28.  And  dripping  and  skipping, 

29.  And  whitening  and  brightening, 

30.  And  quivering  and  shivering, 

31.  And  hitting  and  splitting, 

32.  And  shining  and  twining, 

33.  And  rattling  and  battling, 

34.  And  shaking  and  quaking, 

35.  And  pouring  and  roaring, 

36.  And  waving  and  raving, 

37.  And  tossing  and  crossing, 

38.  And  flowing  and  growing, 

39.  And  running  and  stunning, 

40.  And  hurrying  and  scurrying, 

41.  And  glittering  and  flittering. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


42.  And  gathering  and  feathering, 

43.  And  dinning  and  spinning, 

44.  And  foaming  and  roaming, 

45.  And  dropping  and  hopping, 

46.  And  working  and  jerking, 

47.  And  heaving  and  cleaving, 

48.  And  thundering  and  floundering, 

49.  And  falling  and  crawling  and  sprawling, 

50.  And  driving  and  riving  and  striving, 

51.  And  sprinkling  and  twinkling  and  wrink- 

•ling, 

52.  And  sounding  and  rounding  and  bounding, 

53.  And  bubbling  and  troubling  and  doubling, 

54.  Diving  and  gliding  and  sliding, 

55.  And  grumbling  and  rumbling  and  tumbling, 

56.  And  clattering  and  battering  and  shattering, 

57.  And  gleaming  and  steaming  and  streaming 

and  beaming, 

58.  And  rushing  and  flushing,  and  brushing 

and  gushing, 

59.  And  flapping  and  rapping,  and  clapping 

and  slapping, 

60.  And  curling  and  whirling,  and  purling  and 

twirling, 

61.  Retreating  and  beating,  and  meeting  and 

sheeting, 

62.  Delaying  and  straying,  and  playing  and 

spraying, 

63.  Advancing  and  prancing,  and  glancing  and 

dancing. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY.  35 

64.  Recoiling,  turmoiling  and  toiling  and  boil- 

ing, 

65.  And  thumping  and  flumping,  and  bumping 

and  gumping, 

66.  And  dashing  and  flashing  and  splashing 

and  clashing, 

67.  And  so  never  ending,  but  alw’ays  descending, 

68.  Sounds  and  motions  forever  are  blending, 

69.  All  at  once  and  all  o’er,  w’ith  a mighty 

uproar, 

70.  And  this  is  the  way  the  water  came  down 

at  Lodore. 


KEY  TO  THE  SECOND  PROBLEM  OF  THE  CHESS 
BOARD. 

To  make  this  as  plain  as  possible,  without  putting 
the  most  ordinary  capacity  to  a severe  mental  effort, 
we  give  the  key  words  in  connection  with  the  figures 
so  that  the  study  of  the  problem  will  be  as  agreeable 
to  the  mental  as  swinging  dumb-bells,  or  any  other 
exercise,  is  to  the  physical.  Authors  frequently  have 
their  subjects  so  completely  fixed  in  their  own  minds 
that  they  take  it  for  granted  that  the  reader  will  see 
it,  and  understand  it  in  an  instant,  but  this  is  often 
not  true. 

The  key  words  representing  figures  can  be  re- 
tained in  the  memory  as  easily  as  if  they  expressed 
the  most  elegant  sentiments  in  prose  or  poetry. 

To  give 

The  total  in  grains.  We  start  with  a gray 


36 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY, 


mummy  fop,  more  fog,  less  mud,  curiosity,  sweep, 
muss. 

The  words  in  italics  are  the  first  links  of  the  chain 
which  the  mind  takes  hold  of.  “We  start,”  signifies 
the  commencement  of  the  problem.  The  word^rqy 
suggests  the  idea  of  grains^  and  the  key  words  give 
the  figures  as  follows:  me,  me,  fe,  pe,  me,  re,  fe,  ge, 
le,  se,  me,  te,  ke,  re,  se,  te,  se,  pe,  me,  se. 

Grains  in  a pound. 

He  who  undertakes  to  count  the  grains  in  one 
pound  in  a minute  will  have  to  be  in  haste,  or  be 

Timed  over. 

Te,  me,  de,  ve,  re. 

Grains  in  a bushel. 

The  man  who  counted  the  grains  of  wheat  and 
rice  in  a bushel. 

Kept  his  rice. 

Ke,  pe,  te,  se,  re,  se. 
Grains  in  one  ton,  or  3,000  pounds. 

Towns  have  barber  shops,  but  in  the  country 
No  chum  shaves  us  so. 

Ne,  che,  me,  she,  ve^  se,  se. 
Divide  the  whole  number  of  grains  by  these  dif- 
ferent proportions,  and  we  find  that  it  contains  in 
Pounds.  Pound  the  rogue^  we  have. 

No  locks;  officer;  lock  him  up;  chew  charcoal. 
Ne,  le,  ke,  se,  fe,  se,  re,  le,  ke,  me,  pe,  che,  che, 
re,  ke,  le. 

Bushels,  bush  ma7i^ 

Run  for  sugar;  no  half  pay  boy  reward. 

Re,  ne,  fe,  re,  she,  ge,  re,  ne,  fe,  pe,  be,  re,  re,  de. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


37 


Tons.  Large  towns  are  not  made  by  a 
Wooden  hovel,  race  union,  fish  pie  fame. 

De,  ne,  ve,  le,  re,  se,  ne,  ne,  fe,  she,  pe,  fe,  me* 

Which  would  be  worth  at  the  bushel.  See  key 
word  “ busk  manP 
Load  canal  boats  at  40  tons. 

If  I owned  the  whole  and  one  would  sink^  I 
would 

Mind  my  loss  like  a digger. 

Me,  ne,  de,  me,  le,  se,  le,  ke,  te,  ke,  re. 
Load  vessels  at  300  tons. 

The  captain  of  the  ship  would  make  a servant  boy. 

Run  for  sugar;  navy  pie. 

Re,  ne,  fe,  re,  she,  ge,  re,  ne,  ve,  pe. 
Which  would  make  as  many  loaves,  at  one  pound 
each,  as,  see  Pound  the  rog7ie. 

Which  would  feed  the  population  of  the  globe,  or 
1,000,000,000,  at  one  pound  a day,  or  365  pounds  a 
year,  for  each  as  long  as  7,043  years,  209  days. 

Gas  room  and  newsboy. 

Gn,  se,  re,  me,  & ne,  se,  be. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


ILLUSTRATIONS  IN  MENTAL  GYMNASTICS. 

As  already  stated,  the  process  of  exercising  the 
memory  so  as  to  fix  and  retain  numbers,  dates,  and 
figures,  to  any  desirable  amount,  is  so  plain  and  easy 
that  the  mind  is  at  once  interested,  and  the  exercise 
becomes  a pleasant  and  agreeable  task,  and  the  bene- 
fits are  incalculable. 

An  incident  will  illustrate  this.  A short  time 
since  the  author  met  a friend  in  a bookstore,  and 
while  looking  at  a copy  of  the  revised  version  of  the 
Bible,  said,  “ I can  commit  to  memory,  in  a few 
hours,  every  page  on  which  the  books  of  the  Old 
Testament  commence;”  and  in  about  three  hours  the 
task  was  accomplished,  and  these  numbers  are  easily 
retained  in  memory.  Not  only  were  the  pages  on 
which  the  book  commences  committed  but  the  num- 
ber of  chapters  in  each  book,  by  the  following 
process: 

First,  we  must  find  some  word  as  a link  by  which 
we  get  the  name  of  the  object.  These  link  words 
are  always  printed  in  italics  to  impress  them  upon  the 
mind.  In  some  instances  the  matter  is  so  plain  that 
we  do  not  need  a link  word,  as  in  Genesis. 

We  know  that  Genesis  commences  on  the  first 
(38) 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


39 


page,  but  in  getting  the  number  of  chapters  the  book 
contains  we  must  have  a key  word,  and  these  key 
words  stand  alone  so  as  to  distinguish  them  from  the 
^sentence  from  which  we  get  them.  To  get  the  num- 
ber of  chapters  in  the  book  of  Genesis  we  remember 
This  book  gives  the  account  of  our  Loss. 

Exodus:  This  gives  an  account  of  the  journey 
of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  we  can 


easily  imagine  that  they  have  no  Road, 

And  when  Pharo  pursued  them  they  were 

on  a Race, 

Leviticus:  takes  the  priesthood  with  a Gush* 

And  would  not  take  the  j^oor  man  on  his  Nag, 
Numbers:  No  bars  can  keep  away  the  Dust 

Nor  keep  one  from  a Mash, 

Deuteronomy : Do  it  for  the  law  is  Adamic, 

Keep  it  and  be  Merry, 

Joshua:  Jo  shoe  a horse  to  make  the 

Head  Shake, 

And  he  will  be  a Winner, 


Judges:  A judge  of  music  would  not  play  on  a 

Hot  Fife, 


He  might  lose  his  Wind. 

Ruth : Gleaning  amongst  the  reapers  was  Unsafe. 

But  had  no  fears  from  an  Arrow. 

I Samuel:  When  Samuel  frst  went  to  the 

house  of  Eli  he  was  Needed, 

But  had  to  live  without  a Mate, 


40 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


II  Samuel : The  second  time  he  was  called  he 

found  he  had  nothing  to  Unmake^ 


And  took  one  from  the  Owner. 

I Kings:  Saul,  the  first  king  from  David,  had 

No  Help. 

With  all  his  power  he  found  himself  a Ninny. 
11.  Two  Kings^  when  crossing  Jordan,  had 

No  Ferry. 


But  hung  their  garments  on  a NaiL 

I Chronicles:  One  crown  on  a nickel  would  be 

rather  Massive, 

But  not  on  a Knob. 

II  Chronicles:  Two  chronic  kings  in  their 

schemes  May  Miss. 

Yet  men  will  do  them  Homage. 

Ezra:  Israel  had  wounds  he  could  not  Mollify. 


He  left  them  in  the 


Woods. 


Nehemiah:  No  hymn  I know  would  make  his 

Home  Jewish. 

For  he  came  from  the  race  of  Adam. 

Esther:  A stir  was  made  because  Mordecai  sat 

at  the  gate  Smoking. 

And  this  for  Haaman  was  a bitter  Dose. 

Job:  Job’s  friends  made  him  a Mujfy  Home. 

But  he  looked  at  it  as  Irony. 

Psalms:  The  psalmist  did  not  play  his  harp 

with  a Rasp. 

As  all  who  heard  him  could  see  him  Hatless. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Proverbs:  The  book  of  proverbs  w^as  the 

King’s  Organ, 

Because  he  gave  many  a pious  Motto, 

Ecclesiastes  was  a preacher,  while  David  was  a 

Harper, 

Because  he  had  much  Twine, 

The  Song  of  Songs:  This  long  song  was  not 

played  on  an  Air  Pipe, 

Not  for  a Fee, 

Isaiah : This  prophet  wars  an  AFseer, 

As  from  his  writings  we  may  yudge, 

Jeremiah:  Cheer  a man  \)s\2X  yo\x  2es\  Alarm. 

Especially  if  you  are  Alone. 

Lamentations:  A lame  man  cried  loud  and 

long  like  a Hill  Fife. 

On  a Hill. 

Ezekiel:  Is  he  killed?  Then  put  his  name  in 

your  Album, 

And  do  not  treat  him  Roughs 

Daniel : Done  well  in  the  lions’  den  as  a Tamer. 

He  kept  the  lions  Down. 

Hosea:  A house  of  worship  is  a Church, 

With  a large  Door. 

Joel:  solitude  is  like  a few  Alone, 

Yet  he  may  be  at  Home, 

Amos:  A muss  is  not  good  for  a feweler. 

Where  things  are  thrown  into  a Pie. 


42 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Obadiah : O a bed  is  better  to  sleep  on  than  a 

Shelf: 

But  when  you  lie  down  takeoff  your  Hat, 

Jonah  was  as  nauseating  to  the  whale’s  stomach 

as  a dose  of  falap. 

And  he  was  no  Hero, 


Micah : Transparent  mica  is  not  as  good  to 

~ write  on  as  a few  Sheet, 

Yet  it  maybe  tough  as  Oak, 

Nahum:  No  ham  would  please  him  as  well  as  a 

few  Cherry, 

Which  he  might  find  at  Home, 

Habakuk.  He  would  have  a cook  that  would 

prepare  his  meals  yewishly. 


In  his  own  Home, 

Zephaniah:  So  fine  a prophet  would  prefer  a 

boot  jack  to  a Shoe  fack. 

To  use  it  in  his  Home, 

Haggai:  High  Gears  look  like  a few  Job, 

But  not  so  sweet  as  Honey, 

Zachariah:  So  carry  your  burthen  like  a 


Jack  Ass. 

Though  heavy  as  a Deer, 

Malachi:  Mai  treatment  makes  many  a one  go 

Gagging. 

And  dragging  like  a Harrow. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


43 


The  foregoing  is  only  intended  to  illustrate  the 
manner  of  forming  short  sentences  containing  link 
and  key  words  upon  which  the  memory  fastens,  and 
from  which  it  transfers  itself  to  other  words  that  may 
have  some  correspondence  with  the  words,  and 
give  the  word  that  contains  the  proper  numbers. 

It  is  quite  likely  that  some  will  object  to  this  and 
regard  it  as  a round-about  way  of  getting  at  the  word 
containing  the  number.  But  a fair  trial  and  exper- 
ience will  soon  convince  the  most  skeptical  that  this 
process  of  linking  one  class  of  words  with  others,  has 
a marvelous  effect  on  the  memory  by  giving  it 
strength  and  vigor. 

The  words  we  are  sometimes  compelled  to  take 
may  appear  simple  and  ludicrous,  but  even  this  will 
enable  the  memory  to  retain  them  better. 

We  are  not  arranging  choice  words  and  elegant 
sentences,  but  memory-shelves  and  hooks  on  which 
to  lay  or  hang  our  words  and  numbers,  so  as  to  have 
them  at  a moment’s  notice. 

To  make  this  perfectly  plain  we  give  some  illus- 
trations from  the  preceding  formulas: 

The  word  Exodus  at  once  gives  the  idea  of  a 
journey — of  the  wilderness,  where  there  was  no  road. 
The  word  road  gives  41  for  the  page.  Now  it  is 
very  plain  that  when  Pharo  pursued  them,  they  were 
on  a race;  this  gives  the  figure  40.  Levi  takes  cor- 
responds with  Leviticus,  no  bars  with  Numbers,  and 
so  on  through  the  list. 

By  carefully  looking  over  the  formulas  again  you 
will  see  how  one  thing  hitches  on  to  another,  so  as  to 
make  the  chain  complete. 


44 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


We  can  present  numerous  illustrations  to  show 
the  advantages  of  this  system  of  fixing  numbers  in 
the  mind  by  words  that  are  not  easily  forgotten. 
Forty  years  ago  the  writer  lived  in  the  city  of  Balti- 
more, and  was  requested  to  call  at  No.  75  Argyle 
alley  at  a meat  market,  and  the  meat  market  sug- 
gested the  idea  of  killing,  and  the  word  kill  was 
fixed  on,  which  gives  75,  and  this  has  remained  in  the 
mind  over  forty  years. 

Some  time  since  a young  lad,  going  to  school, 
complained  of  a poor  memory.  W^hen  asked  to  re- 
member the  number  of  a watch  which  was  3985,  he 
said  he  could  not  retain  this  number  in  his  memory. 
I told  him  to  remember  that  when  the  girl  scrubbed 
the  kitchen  she  made  the  mop Jly,  This  he  could  re- 
member without  the  least  difficulty,  and  this  word 
mop  fly  gives  3985.  Now  these  little  associations 
would  at  once  commence  to  strengthen  his  memory, 
and  by  following  the  rules  laid  down  in  this  w^ork, 
he  will  soon  be  able  to  recollect  anything  he  may 
wish  to  store  away  in  his  memory. 

As  a convenience  for  reference  from  the  formulas 
giving  the  pages  where  the  books  of  the  Bible  com- 
mence, and  the  number  of  chapters  in  each  book,  we 
give  the  figures,  as  all  Bibles  are  not  paged  in  the 
same  way,  and  it  will  be  good  exercise  to  get  the 
figures  from  the  formulas  or  words,  and  then  refer  to 
these  figures  to  find  them  correct. 

Books.  Pages.  Chapters. 

Genesis i 5^ 

Exodus 41  40 


45 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Books. 

Leviticus 

Numbers 

Deuteoronomy. 

Joshua  

Judges 

Ruth 

I Samuel 

I I Samuel .... 

I Kings 

II  Kings 

I Chronicles... 

II  Chronicles.. 
Ezra  ......... 

Nehemiah 

Esther 

Job 

Psalms 

Proverbs ...... 

Ecclesiastes .... 

Song  of  Songs 

Isaiah 

Jeremiah 

Lamentations . . 

Ezekiel 

Daniel 

Hosea 

Joel 

Amos 

Obadiah 

Jonah 

Micah 

Nahum 

Habbakuk  . . , , 
Zephaniah  . . . . 

Haggai 

Zachariah 

Malachi. ...... 


Pages. 

76 

lOI 

137 

167 

188 

208 


21  I 


237 

259 


284 

308 


330 

358 

366 


377 

383 

409 

472 

494 

499 

504 

543 


588 


593 

634 

646 

6t;2 

654 

658 

659 

661 


664 

665 
667 

669 

670 

677 


Chapters. 

••  27 

..  36 

• • 34 

..  24 

21 

••  4 

• • 3' 

. . 24 

. . 22 

••  25 

. . 29 

..  36 

. . 10 

• • 13 

. . 10 

..  42 

..  150 

••  31 

. . 12 

. . 8 
. . 66 
••  52 

••  5 

..  48 

. . 12 

..  14 

••  3 

• • 9 


4 

7 

3 

3 

3 


14 

4 


CHAPTER  VII. 


MISCELLANEOUS  ARTICULATIONS. 

In  which  some  brief  words  give  large  numbers, 
and  long  words  small  numbers. 

1.  Woody,  widow,  headway,  heath,  hood,  hide, 
ahead,  weighty.  2.  Honey,  knew,  own,  now.  8. 
Haymow,  home,  my,  299.  Nabob.  412.  War- 
den, ordain,  retain,  written,  harden.  841.  Virtue, 
overdo,  afraid,  fright,  freight,  Friday,  forehead.  851. 
Flight,  field,  fluid,  fled,  vailed.  859.  Flap,  flop, 
flip.  941.  Bird,  bright,  proud,  parrot,  breath,  brute, 
bread,  abroad,  board,  part,  party.  950.  Policy, 
pulse,  plus,  bliss,  please,  hopeless,  palace,  applause. 
951.  Plod,  plate,  build,  blood,  pallet,  ballot,  behold, 
ability.  1014.  Destroy,  twister,  duster,  toaster. 
1421.  Tornado,  adorned,  trinity,  eternity,  trained, 
tyrant,  hydrant.  1491.  Torpedo,  tribute,  tripod, 
thereabout,  water-pot,  turbid.  1514.  Dilator,  idol- 
ator,  dilatory,  delighter.  1714.  Educator,  doctor, 
together.  1801.  Headfast,  deficit,  defaced,  divest, 
devised,  diffused,  901.  Debased,  deposed,  deposit, 
deepest.  2140.  Notorious,  indorse,  nitrous,  wond- 
rous, inodorous.  2142.  Unitarian,  undrawn,  en- 
thrown.  2480.  Nervines.  2482.  Nervine.  2500. 
Analysis.  2585.  Unlawful.  2712.  Nicotine.  2723. 

(46) 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


47 


Nickname.  2739.  Encamp.  2744.  Enquirer.  2810. 
Invidious.  2844.  Inferior.  2870.  Infix.  2874. 
In  vigor.  2895.  Enfeeble.  2911.  Unpitiecl.  2942. 
Inborn,  unborn.  2951.  Unbolt.  3014.  Moisture. 
3023.  Misname.  3052.  Muslin.  3058.  Himself. 
3068.  Mischief.  3071.  Mosquito.  3078.  Mis- 

give. 3095.  Misspell.  3105.  Mudsill.  3114.  Imi- 
tator.  3141.  Matured.  3142.  Modern.  3156. 

Mythology.  3169.  Midship.  3186.  Mud-fish. 
3209.  Mince  pie.  3212.  Monotony.  3247.  Mon- 

archy. 3245.  Mineral.  3256.  Hymnology.  3262. 
Mention,  moonshine.  3276.  Monkish.  3297.  Mon- 
ey-bag.  3321.  Moment.  3340.  Memorize.  3374. 
Mimicry.  3395.  Mumble.  3405.  Morsel.  3412. 
Meridian,  3418.  Mortify.  3432.  Mormon.  3470. 
Marquis.  3495.  Marble.  3510.  Melodious.  3517. 
Homoletic.  3540.  Mill-race.  3601.  Majesty. 
3720.  Meekness.  3275.  Mongolia.  3726.  Mag- 

nesia. 3728.  Magnify.  3741.  Emigrate.  3745- 
Mackerel.  3940.  Impress.  3943.  Emporium.  3947. 
Embark.  3953.  Emblem.  4034.  Rosemary. 
4075.  Rascal.  4107.  Heartsick.  4134.  Redeemer. 
4149.  Wardrobe.  4150.  Artless.  4175.  Article. 

4177.  Earthquake.  4213.  Random.  4264.  Ranger. 
4286.  Hornfish.  4391.  Armpit.  4751.  Haircloth, 
4848.  Riflf-rafF.  4885.  Revival.  4921.  Urban- 

ity. 4947.  Rubric.  4960.  Rapacious.  5012, 
Hailstone.  5072.  Eelskin.  5090.  Allspice.  5157. 
Lady-like.  5197.  Lady-bug.  5204.  Lancer. 
5264.  Lounger.  5394.  Lumber.  5701.  Laxity. 
5727.  Laconic.  5742.  Alcoren.  5891.  Alpha- 


48 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


bet.  6049.  Jew  sharp.  6161.  Chit,  chat.  6245. 
General.  6264.  Ginger.  6425.  Journal.  6791. 

Jacobite.  6952.  Chaplain.  7062.  Oxygen.  7070. 
Excuse.  7071.  Exact.  7091.  Exhibit.  7094. 

Expire.  7103.  Egotism.  7109.  Catsup.  7115. 
Cat-tail.  7129.  Kidnap.  7174.  Category.  7175. 

Catcall.  7212.  Canadian.  7270.  Equinox. 
7275.  Kingly.  7284.  Confer.  7375.  Comical. 

7401.  Crest,  grist,  crust,  corset.  7404.  Grocery, 
grazer,  grocer.  7408.  Aggressive.  7409.  Grasp, 
crisp,  cross-bow.  7411.  Graduate,  greeted,  courted, 
credit.  7420.  Greenhouse,  cornice,  grains,  eager- 
ness. 7424.  Grainer,  corner.  7427.  Crank.  7439. 
Crimp,  cramp.  7454.  Growler,  crawler.  7456. 
Girlish.  7460.  Gracious.  7471.  Correct.  7487. 
Graphic.  7485.  Gravel.  7495.  Grapple.  7503. 

Gleesome.  7509.  Clasp.  7512.  Gladden.  7524. 
Gleaner.  7526.  Clannish,  clownish.  7531.  Calu- 
met, climate.  7544.  Clearer.  7546.  Clergy.  7547. 
Clerk.  7548.  Glorify.  7550.  Guileless.  7569. 
Coal-ship.  7584.  Glover.  7611.  Cogitate.  7697. 
Cash-book.  7715.  Cocktail.  7741.  Go-cart.  7743. 
Cook-room.  7750.  Goggles.  7794.  Cow-keeper. 
7854.  Cavalry.  7918.  Captive.  7941.  Copyright- 
7954.  Cobbler.  7970.  Cow-pox.  7997.  Copy- 
book. 8014.  Faster.  -8018.  Festive.  8081.  Phos- 
phate. 8084.  Phosphor.  8130.  Ofttimes.  8145. 
Vitriol.  8216. . Vintage.  8274.  Vinegar.  8322. 

Feminine.  8350.  Fameless.  8354.  Familiar. 
8401.  First. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


ARTICULATION  OF  DIFFERENT  WORDS  OFTEN  GIV- 
ING THE  SAME  NUMBERS. 

8402.  Overseen,  foreseen.  8403.  Aphorism. 

8404.  Overseer,  verser,  forswear,  forcer,  foreseer, 

8405.  Frizzle,  fiercely,  furiously.  8407.  Frisky, 
haversack,  Pharisaic,  frisk,  forsake.  8408.  Versify. 
8410.  Overdose,  virtuous.  8411.  Affrighted,  forth- 
with, fortieth,  frighted,  freighted.  8412.  Overdone, 
fortune,  fourteen,  frighten.  8413.  Aforetime,  fore- 
doom, freedom.  8414.  Farther,  further,  overdraw, 
overthrow,  overture,  verdure.  8415.  Fertile,  fore- 
tell, fourthly.  8416.  Fruitage,  foreteach.  8417. 
Overtake,  overtook.  8418.  Frutive,  fortify.  8419. 
Overtop,  foretop.  8420.  Furnace,  freeness,  variance. 
8421.  Afront,  fore-end,  fore  wind,  overneat,  over- 
night, veranda,  friend,  front,  fore-hand,  affront, 
8424.  Foreigner,  vernier.  8425.  Vernal.  8426. 
Varnish,  fringy,  furnish,  French.  8427.  Frank. 
84e30.  Pharmacy,  farm-house.  8431.  Formed, 
framed,  farmed,  affirmed.  8432.  Foreman,  freeman, 
freewoman,  fireman,  vermin,  ferryman.  8434.  Ever- 
more, farmer,  fcn'mer.  8435.  Formal,  fi  rmly,  form- 
ula. 8436.  Overmuch.  8440.  Forehorse.  8441. 
Over-heard,  over-wrought,  forward,  froward,  over- 

4 (49) 


50 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


ride,  over-rate.  8442.  Over- worn,  forerun,  fore- 
warn, over-run.  8443.  Fore-arm.  8445.  Over- 
rule. 8446.  Overarch.  8447.  Firework,  over- 
work. 8450.  Fearless.  8451.  Over-load,  over- 
laid, frailty,  varioloid,  freehold.  8453.  Overwhelm. 
8456.  Overlash.  8457.  Overlook,  firelock,  frolick, 
fairy-like.  8458.  Overlove,  overlive.  8459.  Over- 
loop, overleap.  8460.  Voracious,  avaricious,  fera- 
cious.  8461.  Fore-shadow,  overshot,  overshade, 
freshet,  over-shadow.  8462.  Freshen,  virgin,  ever- 
sion, version.  8464.  Forger,  forager,  forgery. 
8465.  Freshly,  fragile.  8469.  Fore-ship,  fire-ship. 
8470.  Varicous,  fracas.  8471.  Forked,  fork-head, 
overact,  variegate,  forgot,  forget.  8472.  Firkin, 
foregone,  African,  overgone.  8473.  Overcome. 
8474.  Overgrow,  fore-goer,  over-eager.  8475. 
Freckle,  freckly,  fire-clay,  frugal.  8476.  Freakish, 
8477.  Fire-cock.  8478.  Forgive,  forgave.  8481. 
Fervid,  fore-foot,  verified,  overfeed.  8484,  Forever, 
verifier.  8485.  Fire-fly,  fearful,  over-flow,  over-fill, 
over-vail.  8486.  Farfetch.  8490.  Verbose,  over- 
pass. 8491.  Fire-pot,  forebode,  forbid,  overbid. 
8492.  Ever-open,  fire-pan.  8494.  Overbear,  for- 
bear, overpower.  8495.  Friable,  fire-ball,  variable, 
variably,  verbal,  overblow,  furbelow.  8496.  Fur- 
bish, verbiage,  frubish.  8500.  Falaceous.  8501. 
Falsity,  falsehood,  felicity,  fleeced.  8503.  Fulsome. 
8504.  Fleecer,  falser.  8505.  Falsely.  8508. 
Philosophy,  falsify.  8510.  Afflatus,  flatwise.  8511. 
Validity,  affiliated,  flighted,  floated,  fluidity,  folded, 
violated.  8512.  Heavy-laden.  8514.  Foulder,  evil- 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


51 


doer,  upholder,  violater,  falter,  vulture,  filter,  folder. 
8515.  Filthily,  fiatly,  fleetly.  8517.  Voltaic. 
8520.  Felonous,  fullness,  felonious,  awfulness, 
fluency,  vileness,  violence,  affluence.  8521.  Flint, 
ffinty,  effluent,  violent,  affluent,  valient.  8526.  Flinch, 
avalanche.  8527.  Flank.  8530.  Flimsy.  8539. 
Flambeau.  8540.  Valorous,  effloresce.  8541.  Fool- 
hardy, florid,  flirt.  8542.  Florin,  fluorin.  8545.  Floral, 
8546-  Flourish.  8550.  Valueless.  8561.  Flushed. 
8562.  Evolation,  evulsion,  valuation,  violation,  val- 
uation. 8564.  Flasher,  flusher.  8565.  Foolishly, 
fallaciously.  8567.  Flesh-hook.  8570.  Flux,  flax, 
efflux,  afflux.  8571.  Afflict,  vulgate,  flogged. 
8572.  Vulcano,  volcano,  flagon.  8574.  Vulgar, 
flicker  8580.  Flavous.  8581.  Velvet,  full-fed. 
vilified  8583.  Effluvium.  8584.  Vilifier,  flavor. 
8585.  Fulfil.  8586.  Fly-fish.  8591.  Flea-bite. 
8592.  Flea-bane,  fly-bane.  8595.  Valuable,  fly- 
blow, available,  fallible.  8597.  Philippic.  8605. 
Viciously,  officiously.  8608.  Vouchsafe.  8611, 
Viciated,  vitiated.  8618.  Fugitive.  8621.  Fash- 
ioned. 8624.  Visionary,  fashioner.  8625. 
Visional.  8632.  Fish-woman.  8635.  Fish-meal. 
8643.  Fishroom.  8657.  Fish-like.  8677.  Fish- 
gig.  8701.  Vexed,  faxed,  fixed.  8706.  Fox- 
ish.  8713.  Victim.  8714.  Vector,  victor,  factur- 
factory,  factor,  victory,  fig-tree.  8721.  Vacant,  vis, 
count.  8740.  Vigorous,  vicarious.  8750.  Voca- 
lize. 8751.  Faculty.  8758.  FIgleaf.  8760. 
Factious.  8762.  Vocation,  fiction.  8801.  Vivacity, 
half-faced.  8811.  Fiftieth.  8812.  Fifteen.  8815.  Viv- 


52 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


idly.  8841.  Favoured.  8844.  Favorer.  8846.  Feverish. 
8848.  Feverfew.  8860.  Vivacious.  8880.  Viva-voce, 
8921.  Hoof-bound.  8944.  Vaporer,  February.  8945. 
Febrile.  9010.  Besides,  pest-house,  post-house.  9011. 
Apostate,  posted,  bestowed.  9012.  Abstain,  piston. 
9013.  Pastime.  9014.  Bestrew,  whipster,  pastry,  pas- 
ture. 9015.  Pastel,  pustule,  bastile,  pastil,  pistol,  pistole, 
bestowal,  beastly.  9016.  Postage.  9017.  Whip- 
stock. 9018.  Whip-staff,  positive.  9020.  Absence, 
business,  baseness,  poisonous,  absence.  9021. 
Poisoned,  obscenity.  9024.  Poisoner.  9031.  Bis- 
muth. 9035.  Piece-meal.  9041.  Absurd.  9048. 
Observe.  9049.  Absorb.  9050.  Baseless.  9051. 
Absolute,  obsolete.  9062.  Position,  bastion.  9064, 
Beseecher.  9070.  Obsequious.  9071.  Biscuit, 
basket.  9072.  Buskin.  9074.  Obscure.  9079. 
Episcopy.  9085.  Bass-viol,  peaceful,  peacefully. 
9087.  Pacific.  9095.  Boys-play.  9100.  Hypoth- 
esis. 9101.  Bedside,  pietist,  bedust.  9103.  Budd- 
hism. 9105.  Piteously.  9i07.  Bedusk.  9113. 
Bed-time.  9117.  Hypothetic.  9120.  Badness. 
9121.  Potent,  obedient,  patentee,  patent.  9127. 
Botanic.  9131.  Bed-mate.  9132.  Abdomen,  boat- 
man. 9137.  Epidemic.  9141.  Betrayed,  putrid, 
patriot.  9142.  Pattern.  9143.  Bath-room,  bed- 
room. 9145.  Petrol.  9148.  Putrify.  9149.  Be- 
trap,  boat-rope.  9162.  Optician,  petition.  9163. 
Potassium.  9170.  Optics.  9171.  Abdicate,  obduct. 
9172.  Bodkin,  betoken.  9174.  Apothecary,  pedi- 
gree. 9175.  Hepatical.  9185.  Pitfall,  pitiful,  beau- 
tifully. 9195.  Habitable.  9201.  Pianist,  boneset. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


53 


9205.  Pencil.  9208.  Pensive.  92*0.  Bounteous. 
9211.  Painted,  bounded,  pounded.  9212.  Pantheon, 
abandon.  9214.  Bender,  pointer,  banter,  pantry, 
pointer,  panther,  boundary.  9215.  Bundle.  9216. 
Bandage,  bondage.  9218.  Opiniative,  pontiff.  9220. 
Pennace.  92B2.  Penman.  9240.  Penurious. 
9248.  Panorama.  9250.  Paneless,  boneless,  pain- 
less. 9251.  Penalty.  9261.  Banished,  pinched. 
9264.  Pincher,  puncher.  9270.  Pin-case.  9274. 
Banker.  9275.  Pinacle.  9281.  Bona-fide.  9284. 
Bonfire.  9285.  Painful.  9295.  Pine-apple.  9821. 
Payment.  9850.  Beamless.  9890.  Pompous. 
9894.  Pamper,  pumper.  9400.  Process,  precise. 
9101.  Brest,  precede,  priest,  bruised,  proceed.  9403. 
Hebraism,  prism.  9404.  Piercer.  9405.  Parcel, 
parsley,  Brazil,  parasol,  perusal.  9406.  Presage. 
9407.  Brisk.  9410.  Paradise,  produce.  9411. 
Birth-day,  bright-eyed,  breathed,  bare-headed.  9412. 
Puritan,  brighten,  burden,  Briton.  9414.  Portray, 
barter,  breeder,  pear-tree,  brother,  porter,  border, 
operator.  9415.  Port-hole,  prattle,  bridle,  bridewell, 
partly,  portal,  portly,  brutal,  pertly,  9416.  Prodigy, 
brutish,  British.  9417.  Partake,  periodic,  partook, 
burdock.  9418.  Abortive,  operative.  9420.  Bare- 
ness, pureness,  prance,  bronze,  appearance,  barren- 
ness. 9421.  Pruned,  burnet,  hybernate,  baronet, 
parent,  print,  brandy,  brant.  9422.  Hibernian,  pro- 
noun. 9424.  Primer,  burner.  9425.  Prunel,  peren- 
nial. 9426.  Brownish,  burnish,  branch.  9427. 
Prank,  brink.  9430.  Primacy,  premise,  promise. 
9431.  Permit,  promote,  pyramid.  9432.  Brahmin. 


54 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


9434.  Premier,  primary,  primer.  9435.  Primal. 
9437.  Abrahamic.  9430.  Promise.  9439.  Primp. 
9440.  Prioress.  9441.  Priority.  9450.  Paralize, 
powerless,  perilous.  9451.  Broiled,  prelate,  prelude. 
9452.  Purloin,  perihelion.  9453.  Power-loom. 
9454.  Brawler,  parlor,  broiler,  prowler.  9457. 
Bear-like.  9460.  Prescious,  purchase.  9461.  Brushed, 
brush-wood,  preached.  9462.  Progeny,  Prussian, 
portion,  operation,  apparition,  apportion.  9464.  Per- 
jury, preacher,  purger.  9471.  Apricot,  brigade, 
barracada,  abrogate,  brocade,  barked.  9472.  Bro- 
ken, bargain.  9474.  Broker,  pricker,  procure, 
breaker,  parker,  barker,  burgher.  9475.  Prickly, 
prickle.  9476.  Breakage,  brackish.  9480.  Per- 
vious, preface,  previous,  proviso,  prophesy,  profuse, 
profess,  privacy,  profuse.  9481.  Prophet,  privet, 
bare-foot,  approved,  provide,  bereft,  brevity,  profit, 
proved.  9482.  Profane,  proven.  9483.  Perfume. 
9484.  Approver,  prefer,  bravery,  purifier.  9485. 
Approval,  bravely,  paravail,  prevail,  briefly.  9487. 
Provoke.  9490.  Perhaps,  purpose,  prepose,  9491. 
Approbate,  probate,  abrupt,  prohibit,  barbed, 
brow-beat.  9492.  Bare-bone.  9494.  Bribery, 
proper,  briber,  prepare,  barber.  9495.  Parabola, 
parboil,  parable.  9497.  Barbecue.  9501.  Blest, 
placid,  pleased,  placed,  pulsate,  blast.  9502.  Blazon. 
9503.  Balsam,  playsome.  9504.  Plaser,  blazer. 
9505.  Hopelessly.  9507.  Obelisk.  9510.  Poul- 
tice. 9511.  Applauded,  plated,  belated,  bolthead, 
pelted,  blotted,  polluted,  palliated.  9512.  Platina,  pal- 
atine, platoon,  bulletin,  bella-donna.  9514.  Apple-tree, 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


55 


bowlder,  peltry,  pelter,  pleader,  beholder,  poultry, 
builder,  bell-wether.  9515.  Belittle,  boldly,  politely. 
9517.  Baltic,  politic,  bull-dog.  9518.  Palative,  ap- 
pellative. 9520.  Ableness,  paleness.  9521.  Planet, 
plenty,  blind,  plant,  upland,  blunt.  9524.  Balneary, 
plenary,  planner.  9525.  Plainly.  9527.  Oblong, 
plank,  belong.  9531.  Playmate,  blamed.  9532. 
Bell-man.  9535.  Pell-mell.  9537.  Polemic. 
9539.  Plump.  9540.  Pleurisy,  polarize.  9541. 
Apple-yard,  bleer-eyed,  polarity,  blurred.  9543. 
Pile-worm.  9545.  Plural.  9546.  Bulrushy. 
9547.  Bulwark.  9561.  Abolished,  polished, 
obliged,  pillaged.  9562.  Ablution,  pollution.  9564. 
Abolisher,  polisher.  9570.  Block-house,  Black-sea. 
9571.  Pole-cat,  blockade,  bulk-head,  obligate,  black- 
eyed,  block-head.  9572.  Balcony.  9573.  Polyg- 
amy. 9576.  Blackish.  9578.  Bull-calf.  9579. 
Blue-cap.  9580.  Pelvis,  oblivious.  9581.  Be- 
loved, bull-fight,  believed.  9584.  Believer,  pilfer, 
belfry.  9585.  Pailful,  baleful.  9586.  Blue-fish. 
9590.  Epilepsy.  9591.  Pulpit.  9592.  Ple- 

beian. 9594.  Belabor,  blubber.  9595.  Play-bill. 
9597.  Pull-back,  play-book.  9598.  Bull-beef. 
9599.  Blow-pipe.  9614.  Peach-tree,  beech-tree. 
9620.  Patience.  9621.  Passionate,  passioned. 

9625.  Optional.  9627.  Passion-week.  9632. 

Bushman.  9654.  Bachelor.  9671.  Object.  9685. 
Bashful.  9701.  Backside,  backset.  9703.  Buxom. 
9704.  Boxer.  9711.  Bigoted.  9714.  Back-door, 
bigotry,  picture.  9715.  Pig-tail,  pocket-hole.  9724. 
Pecuniary.  9727.  Picknick.  9732.  Bookman. 


56 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


9740.  Pack-horse.  9741.  Bug-wort,  hypocrite, 
epicurean,  beak-iron.  9743.  Back-room,  buckram. 
9745.  Pickerel.  9746.  Bog-rush.  9754.  Peculiar, 
piacular.  9785.  Bookful.  9791.  Backbite.  9792. 
Back-bone.  9794.  Bug-bear.  9799.  Bag-pipe. 
9814.  Beef-eater.  9824.  Buffoonery.  9841.  Pov- 
erty, beavered.  9846.  Beverage.  9858.  Bivalve. 
9865.  Peevishly.  9901.  Papist.  9910.  Baptize. 
9913.  Popedom.  9915.  Bobtail.  9941.  Bee-bread. 
9954.  Popular.  9957.  Public.  9969.  Babyship. 
9972.  Popgun. 

It  is  not  the  mere  recollection  of  the  figures  rep- 
resented by  words  as  illustrated  in  this  chapter,  that 
gives  strength  to  the  memory:  but  the  association  of 
one  class  of  words  with  another,  by  which  names 
and  subjects  are  called  up,  and  homophonous  words 
are  selected  by  which  numbers  and  dates  are  fixed  in 
the  memory,  so  as  not  to  be  easily  forgotten. 

This  is  especially  illustrated  in  the  following  chap- 
ter. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


POPULATION  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  CITIES  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES. 

This  is  taken  from  Rand,  McNally  & Co.’s  pocket 
cyclopoedia.  It  may  not  represent  the  present  num- 
ber of  the  population  of  these  different  cities,  but  it 
will  illustrate  how  easily  figures  or  numbers  can  be 
permanently  impressed  on  the  memory  by  words 
with  homophonous  sounds,  to  which  are  linked  the 
words  that  represent  the  numbers.  Every  effort  in 
this  direction  will  strengthen  the  memory.  To  re- 
member one  thing  by  its  similarity  in  sound  to  some 
other  object,  is  the  best  exercise  we  can  engage  in  to 
restore  a feeble  and  too  often  neglected  memory. 

These  formulas  representing  numbers  may  often 
appear  ridiculous  and  far  fetched;  yet  this  may  serve 
to  impress  them  more  forcibly  upon  the  memory.  It 
is  memory  and  not  elegance  of  diction  we  are  after. 

By  carefully  studying  the  following  illustrations  of 
this  system,  any  one  can  soon  form  the  habit  of  con- 
structing formulas  by  which  to  call  up  things  that  are 
always  liable  to  slip  from  the  memory.  We  aim  to 
make  this  so  plain  that  the  most  ordinary  capacity 
can  understand  and  profit  by  it. 

(57) 


58 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Albany , N.  Y.  90,758. 

All  bony  hands  would  not  look  well  in  a 

Boss  glove. 

90.758 

Allegheny,  Pa.  78,682. 

All  gains  are  not  found  in 

Calfish  fun. 
786,82 

Atlanta,  Ga.  37,409. 

Atlantern  light  we  could  not  do  fine  work  but  night 

Make  a rasp. 

37409 

Auburn,  N.  Y.  21,924. 

All  burn  gas  where  there  is 

One  tap  owner. 

21,924 

Augusta,  Ga.  21,891. 

A gust  of  wind  may  carry  off  a 

Neat  fop  hat. 
21,891 

Baltimore,  Md.  332,313. 

A bold  temer  would  not  be  frightened  if 

Mammon  met  him. 

332,313 

Bay  City,  Mich.  20.693. 

A Bay  near  a city  makes  a good  harbor  for  a 

Noisy  ship  home. 

20,693 


Boston,  Mass.  362,839. 
Bosting  men  may  make  a 


Machine  of  a mob. 

362,839 


I>ESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


59 


Bridgeport,  Conn.  27,643. 

A Bridge  apart  would  not  make  a 

Neck  charm. 


27.643 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  567,665. 

A broken  line  of  thoughts  could  not  make  one  use 

Logic  Jewishly. 

567.665 


Buffalo,  155,134. 

A Buff  fellow  might  be  more  successful  than  Sam- 
son as  a Delilah  tamer. 


155.134 

Cambridge,  Mass.  52,669. 

A cane  bridge  might  be  as  unimportant  as  a poor 

Lone  Jew  shop. 

52,669 


Camden,  N.  Y.  41,659. 

He  came  down  to  get  his  Heritage  help. 

41.659 

Charleston,  S.  C.  49,984. 

Charls  in  toivn  could  find  nothing  like  a 

Rope  paver. 

49.984 


Chelsea,  Mass.  21,782. 

For  a Chill  so  light  it  is  better  the  medicine  be 

Not  given. 
21,782 


Chicago,  111.  503,185. 

Chide  as  you  go  she  moves  majestically  like  soldiers 
in  a Wholesome  defile. 

503.185 


6o 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Cincinnati,  O.  355,139. 

Since  I noticed  your  progress  I see 

No  well  hole  damp. 

255,139 

Cleveland,  Ohio.  160,146. 

Cleve  to  the  land  like  a 

Duchess  too  rich. 

160,146 

Columbus,  Ohio.  51,647. 

A Cohun  burst  might  cause  a 

Loud  shriek. 

5i>647 

Covington.  39,730. 

A Cove  in  town  might  make  an 

Unhappy  gay  ness. 

39,730 

Davenport,  Iowa.  21,831. 

To  Dive  in  port  may  be  done  by  a sailor 

Not  famed. 
21,831 

Denver,  Col.  75,331. 

Done  over  by  rapid  growth  may  soon 

Culminate. 


75^321 


DesMoines,  Iowa.  33,408. 

Do  mine  come  now  or  shall  I None  receive. 

33,408 


Detroit,  Mich.  116,340. 

Do  it  rights  for  from  my  bunch  of  flowers  you  cannot 

Detach  my  rose. 

116,340 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


6l 


Dubuke,  Iowa.  33,354.* 

Do  beg  him  not  to  send  a 

Ninny  nailor. 
33,354 

Elizabeth,  N.  J.  38,339. 

A bath  in  hot  water  would  be  like 


An  oven  nap. 
383,29 

Elmira,  N.  Y.  20,541. 

All  miry  land  would  not  make  a good  farm  for  a 

Nice  lord. 
20,54 1 


Erie,  Pa.  27,737, 

EWe  I would  starve  I would  feast  on  a 

Yankee  game  egg. 


27.737 

Evansville,  Ind.  29,280, 

Evan  so  will  some  conceited  persons  act  like  a 

Nobby  novice. 

29,380 

Fall  River,  Mass.  48,961. 

A fall  into  a river  might  result  from  being 

Ruff  pushed. 
48,96 1 

Fort  Wayne,  Ind.  36,880. 

Forty  wagons  iriay  be  sold  in 

One  chief  office. 

26,880 


Galveston,  Texas,  23,248. 

A galvanic  current  will  affect  No  one  nerve. 

23,248 


62 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY 


Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  32,016. 

Ground  raspberries  may  be  used  to  make  a 

Mince  dish. 
32,016 


Harrisburg,  Pa.  30,762. 

To  harrass  a burgher  without  a cause  would  be  like 
building  a Mouse  kitchen. 

30,762 

Hartford,  Conn.  42,015. 

A hard  ford  in  a storm  would  not  make 


Rains  ideal. 
42,015 

Hoboken,  N.  J.  30,999. 

Hop  packing  could  not  be  done  by  a little 

Miss  Bopeep. 


30,999 

Holyoke,  Mass.  21,915. 

A holy  yok  is  the  emblem  of  a laboring  good  man 
who  will  Not  peddle. 

21,915 

Indianapolis,  Ind.  75,056. 

Indian  apples  will  keep  well  under  a 

Close  latch. 


75*056 

Jersey  City,  N.  J.  120,722. 

Cheer  a city  that  has  no  malaria  and  needs  no 

Dens  quinine. 
120,722 


Kansas  City,  Mo.  75,131. 
Kaned  sauce  is  good  diet  with 


Cold  meat. 

757I31 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


63 


Lancaster,  Pa.  25,769. 

Long  cases  may  contain  Only  ketchup. 

25,769 

Lawrence,  Mass.  39»i5i- 

Lawyers  have  kept  many  a rogue  from  a 

Hemp  toylet. 
39>i5i 

Louisville,  Ky.  123,758. 

Lewis  will  not  leave  from  fear  of  an 


Lowell,  Mass.  599475- 
A Low  well  might  be  filled 


Atheneum  gulf. 

123.75S 

All  by  rock  oil. 


59.475 

Lynn,  Mass.  38,374. 

Lmen  pure  and  white  does  not  indicate 

Muffy  anger. 

38.274 


Manchester,  N.  H.  32,630. 

A man  chased  her  and  she  was  less  frightened  than 
if  she  had  to  Manage  a mouse. 

32,630 

Memphis,  Tenn.  339592. 

Many  tanners  could  not  convert  an  ox  hide  into  a 

Mummy  whale  bone. 


33.592 

Milwaukee,  Wis,  115,587. 

A mile  to  walk  in  the  swamps  of  Florida  might  bring 
us  to  a 


Tidal  live  oak. 

”5.587 


64 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Minneapolis,  Minn.  46,887. 

Many  apples  are  good,  but  if  too  hard  and  sour  they 
might  make  an 

Arch  foe  foggy. 

46,887 

Mobile,  Ala.  29,132. 

More  bills  might  help  and  encourage  an 

Unpaid  man. 
29,132 

Nashville,  Tenn.  43,350. 

No  ashes  will  make  a fire  to  run 

Rum  mills. 


43.350 

Newark,  N.  J.  136,508. 

No  ark  could  hang  upon  a rock  and  make  the 

Damage  all  safe. 

136,508 

New  Bedford,  Mass.  26,815. 

A bad  ford  is  of  no  more  value  than  a toy  of  an 

Inch  fiddle. 
26,815 

New  Haven,  Conn.  62,882. 

A new  and  good  haven  for  ships  would  give  more 
joy  to  sailors  than  a 

Geneva  fan. 
62,882 

New  Orleans.  216,909. 

No  oarlands^  but  good  timber  lands  can  furnish  ma- 
terials for  a 

Neat  ships  baugh. 

216,909 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


65 


New  Port,  Ky.  20,434. 

A new  pot  would  not  be  an  interesting  subject  for  a 

Nice  rhymer. 
20,434 

New  York,  N.  Y.  1,206,299. 

A new  cork  leg  on  the  richest  man  in  this  city  would 
show  that  the  next  largest  city 

Had  no  such  a nabob. 

1,206,299 

Norfolk,  Va.  21,964. 

The  North  fork  of  any  stream  could  not  be  dried  up 
with  a 


- Neat  pitcher. 

21,964 

Oakland,  Cal.  34,555. 

An  Oak  tree  on  the  land  is  stronger  than 

Miery  low  lily. 

34>555 

Omaha,  Neb.  30,516. 

An  Old  man^ s hall  might  make  a 

Mouse  oldish. 
30>5i6 

Oswego,  N.  Y.  21,116. 

As  we  go  to  school  to  learn  and 

Not  to  teach. 
21,1 16 

Paterson,  N.  J.  51,031. 

Peter^s  son  may  come  home,  and  then 


5 


Let  us  meet. 

51.031 


66 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Peoria,  111.  29,269. 

Pea  or  rye  will  make  good  feed,  if  there  is  among  it 

No  bone  chip. 
29,269 

Petersburg,  Va.  21,656. 

Peter  borrowed  from  his  peighbor  a 

Neat  shoe  latch. 

21,656 

Philadelphia,  Pa.  817,170. 

To  fill  a dale  full  of  good  soil  might  cause  a 

Fatigue  tax. 
817,170 

Pittsburg,  Pa.  156,389. 

A fit  full  of  water  near  a city  might  make  a 

Deluge  move  up. 

156,389 

Portland,  Me.  33,810. 

A Porter  on  land  would  not  want  to  fall  into 

Mummy  vats. 

■ 33,810 


Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  20,207. 

Poe  keeps  a garden  of  flowers  from  which  one  might 
gather  a Nice  nosegay. 

20,207 

Providence,  R.  I.  104,857. 

Providing  for  the  future  is  so  important  to  farmers 
that  one  might  well  Desire  a flock. 

104,857 

Quincy,  111.  27,274. 

y.  Quincy  Adams  was  opposed  to  slavery,  and  had 
some  anxiety  for  a Young  nigger. 

27,274 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


67 


Reading,  Pa.  43,278. 

Reading  in  solitude  would  be  like  a 

Room  in  a cave. 

43»278 

Richmond,  Va.  63,600. 

A Rich  man  might  amuse  himself  with 

Sham  chases. 
63,600 

Rochester,  N.  Y.  89,364. 

A Roach  chaser  is  as  unprofitable  as  a 

Foppy  major. 
89,364 

Sacramento,  Cal.  21,420. 

Sacraments  are  not  often  given  in 

Hindo  mines. 
21,420 

St.  Joseph,  Mo.  32,431. 

A Saint  would  go  sick  rather  than  take  a 

Mean  remedy, 

32,431 

St.  Louis,  Mo.  350,518. 

A Saint  would  be  to  blame  if  he  neglected  his 

Homeless  old  wife. 

350^18 

St.  Paul,  Minn.  41,472. 

St,  Paul  when  shipwrecked,  could  not  his 

Road  regain. 

41472 

Salem,  Mass.  27,563. 

Sell  them  well  and  expect  a Yankee  eulogium. 

27.563 


68 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Salt  Lake,  Utah.  20,764. 

Sal^  in  a lake  would  draw  the  cattle  in  spite  of  a 

Nice  cashier. 
20,764 

San  Antonio,  Tex.  20,550. 

St,  Anthony  reigns  quietly  in  a place  that  was 

Once  lawless. 
20,550 

San  Francisco.  233,959. 

A frisky  saint  could  not  make  much  paper  out  of 

One  mummy  pulp. 

233^959 

Savannah,  Ga.  30,709. 

A Savan  could  not  come  to  a wise  conclusion  from 

Mossy  gossip. 
30,709 

Scranton,  Pa.  45,850. 

Screen  a town  and  protect  your  flocks  and  you  will 
have  a good  Yearly  fleece. 

45*850 

Somerville,  Mass.  21,929. 

Some  are  well  in  places  where  they  could 

Not  hob  nob. 
21,929 

Springfield,  111.  19,742. 

A Spring  in  a feld  would  keep  things 

Top  green. 

19.742 

Springfield,  Mass.  33,340. 

A Spring  full  of  water  would  not  make  a 

Mummy  morose. 

33.340 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


69 


Springfield,  Ohio.  20,730. 

A high  spring  might  be  a place  for 

Nice  games. 
20,730 


vSyracuse,  N.  Y.  51,792. 

Sir^  excuse  me  for  leaving  my  Old  cabin. 

51,792 

Taunton,  Mass.  21,213. 

A Ten  town  mass  meeting  singer  might  sing  a 

Night  anthem. 
21,213 


Terre  Haute,  Ind.  26,042. 

Tare  a hat  for  a man  and  he  may  give  you  an 

Unjoyous  run. 
26,042 

Toledo,  Ohio.  50,136. 

To  lead  instead  of  drive  may  cause 

Less  damage. 

Trenton,  N.J.  29,910. 

To  rent  one  room  might  give  us  an 

Unhappy  bed  house. 

29,910 


Troy,  N.  Y.  56,747. 

Try  if  you  can  stop  a scream  with  an 

Owlish  croak. 


56,747 

Utica,  N.  Y.  33,914. 

Tou  take  a cup  of  water,  it  is  better  than  a dry 

Mummy  powder. 


33^9H 


70 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Washington,  D.  C.  147,294. 

Washing  done  in  the  capital  of  the  nation  may  be 
done  by  a 


Freaky  neighbor. 


147,294 

Wheeling,  W.  Va.  30,739. 

A Wheelbarrow  may  be  used  to  build  a 

Mossy  camp. 

30.739 

Wilkesbarre,  Pa.  23,470. 

Will  bare  more  wood  but 


No  more  rocks. 

23,470 

Wilmington,  Del.  42,478. 

A town  willing  to  keep  good  order  will 

Run  a rogue  off. 

42,478 

Worcester,  Mass.  58,291. 

A War  chaser  will  likely 

Love  nobody. 

58.291 


CHAPTER  X. 


DIFFERENT  PERIODS  OF  DISTINGUISHED  PERSONS 
INDICATED  BY  HOMOPHONOUS  SOUNDS. 


Zoroaster  b.  c.  iooo. 

A sore  toe  is  not  counted  among  common 

Diseases. 

iooo 


Buddha  b.  c.  500. 

A bud  in  the  spring  promises  to  bring  back  autumnal 

Losses. 

500 


Homer  b.  c.  850. 

At  home  with  his  friends  the  time  past  and  his  friend- 
ship was  not 

F alse. 
850 

Solon  b.  c.  638. 

So  alone  he  rose  upon  the  darkness  of  his  times  like  a 

Gem  wave. 

638 


Pericles  b.  c.  454. 

A fair  of  claws  would  be  better  to  climb  a tree  than  a 

Roller. 


454 


72 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Herodotus,  a Greek  historian  b.  c.  484. 

A hero  in  his  work;  his  narrative  flows  like  a 

River. 

484 

Socrates  b.  c.  499. 

So  great  a moralist  uttered  truths  more  weighty  than 
the  sound  of  an  Air  pipe. 

499 

Xerxes  flourished  b.  c.  481. 

Xexercised  his  skill  to  send  his  army  across  the  water 
on  a Raft. 

481. 

Plato  born  b.  c.  429. 

A 'plate  of  potatoes  would  not  interest  this  philoso- 
pher as  much  as  a Rainbow. 

429 

Aristotle  born  b.  c.  484. 

Arise  to  tell  me  something  of  this  man  who  traveled 
through  many  lands  to  gain  knowledge  like  a 

Rover. 

484 

Demosthenes  b.  b.  c.  385. 

Dumb  as  an  ass  some  men  would  be  if  it  were  not 
for  such  men  from  whose  lips  great  truths 

May  fall. 

385 

Alexander  the  Great  b.  b.  c.  356. 

All  eggs  under  the  grate  of  a thousand  fires  would 
not  make  a full  meal  for  his 

Militia. 

356 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY, 


73 


Hannibal  b.  b.  c.  247. 

Hand  a bell  to  a man  who  wishes  to  ring  out  an 
alarm  to  save  his  country  from 

Anarchy. 

247 

Cicero  b.  b.  c.  106. 

See  his  row  boat  showing  himself  wiser  than  a com- 
mon 

Wood  sage. 
106 

Pompey  b.  b.  c.  106. 

A pompous  man  with  self  conceit  will  not  be  driven 
by  a Tow  switch. 

106 

Julius  Caesar  b.  b.  c.  ioo. 

A yew  is  easier  under  tyrannical  rule  without  strong 

Doses. 

IOO 

Virgil  b.  b.  c.  70. 

For  chills  go  to  a doctor,  and  for  quills  go  to  a 

Goose. 

70 

Horace  b.  b.  c.  65. 

A horse  that  travels  well  will  make  his  oWner 

Jolly. 

65 

Augustus,  son  of  the  youngest  sister  of  Julius  Caesar 
b.  B.  c.  63. 

August  is  often  followed  by  a calm  as  delightful  as  a 

Gem. 

63 


74 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Constantine  b,  a.  d.  274. 

Constant  in  his  efforts  to  extend  his  empire,  he  kept 
down  his  Anger. 

274 

Mohammed  b.  A.  d.  570, 

More  ham  or  pork  were  rejected  by  this  prophet 
than  could  be  put  into  a 

Log  house. 

570 

St.  Augustus  b.  A.  D.  354. 

A saint  in  August  with  poor  bread  might  blame 
the  Miller. 

354 

Charlemagne  b.  a.  d.  742. 

Charles  managed  to  support  his  armies  with  an 
abundance  of  Grain. 

742 

Alfred  the  Great  b.  a.  d.  849. 

All feared  this  great  warrior  from  the  nobles  down 
to  the  Ferry  boy. 

849 

William  the  Conqueror  b.  a.  d.  1027. 

Will  concord  be  restored  to  a distracted  nation  if  the 
king  is  wiser  than  a 

Dizzy  Yankee. 

1027 

Richard  I.  b.  a.  d.  1157^ 

A rich  bard  could  sing  better  in  the  pure  air  than 
under  a 


Tight  hulk. 

ii57 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


75 


Dante  the  poet  b.  a.  d.  1268. 

A dainty  morsel  might  suit  him  better  than  a 

Danish  wife. 
1268 

Christopher  Columbus  b.  a.  d.  1436. 

A Christian  column  should  not  perpetuate  the  mem- 
ory of  his  enemy  who  proved  himself  unworthy  of 
such 

Dear  homage. 

1436 

Gutenberg  first  used  movable  type  for  printing  a 
D.  1438. 

A good  bargain  in  trade  is  better  than  a 

Dear  move. 

1438 

Joan  of  Arc  b.  A.  d.  1412. 

A joiner'* s ark  was  a place  where  Noah’s  faith  was 

Tried  in. 
1413 

Copernicus  b.  a.  d.  1473. 

A copper  nickel  would  not  help  much  in  a 

Dear  game. 

1473 

Raphael  b.  a.  d.  1483. 

A raffle  for  a prize  painting  of  great  value  might 

Terrify  him. 

1483 

Michael  Angelo  b.  a.  d.  1474. 

Milk  and jelly  served  for  dinner  to  a hungry  man 
might  be  looked  on  as  Trickery. 

1474 


76 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Martin  Luther  b.  a.  d.  14S3. 

More  tanned  leather  to  write  his  scroll  would  have 
secured  a 

Dear  fame. 

1483 

Henry  the  VIII.  King  of  England,  b.  a.  d.  1491. 
Eight  hens  could  never  raise  a brood  of  chickens  if 
you  kept  them  in  a 

Tar  pot. 
1491 

John  Knox,  Scottish  reformer  b.  a.  d.  1505. 
yoin  ox  teams  if  you  wish  to  draw  a heavy  load  up  a 

Woodless  hill. 

1505 

John  Calvin  b.  a.  d.  1509. 

Call  in  vain  for  a deaf 


Idols  boy. 

1509 

Galileo  b.  a.  d.  1564. 

A Gallilean  as  wise  as  this  man  should  sit  in  a 

Tall  chair. 

1564 

Elizabeth,  Queen  of  England,  daughter  of  Henry  the 
VIII.  b.  a.  d.  1533. 

Ill  is  the  bath  that  makes  one  feel  like  an 

Ideal  mummy. 

^533 

William  of  Orange  b.  a.  d.  1633. 

Will  an  orange  peddler  undertake  to 

Teach  a mummy. 

1633 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


77 


Mary,  Queen  of  Scots  b.  a.  d.  1542. 

A merry  ^ueen  she  could  not  be  while  confined  in 
prison  like  an 

Idle  heroine. 

1542 

Francis  Bacon  b.  a.  d.  1561. 

Pi'ied  bacojt  may  be  relished  by  a man  who  wears  a 

Stylish  hat. 
1561 

Wm,  vShakespeare  b.  a.  d.  1564. 

Shake  a spear  at  a man  who  aims  to  get  a 

Tall  share. 

1564 

Wm.  Harvey,  discoverer  of  the  circulation  of  the 
blood  b.  a.  d.  I 578. 

Will  harvest  bring  us  grain  to  feed  our 

Tall  calf. 

157^ 

Oliver  Cromwell  b.  a.  d.  1596. 

All  over  cream  might  resemble  a 

Dull  peach. 

1596 

John  Milton,  the  poet,  b.  a.  d.  1608. 

A mill  in  town  would  be  a safer  place  to  sleep  in 
than  a Wettish  sofa. 

1608 

John  Bunyan  b.  A.  D.  1628. 

A bunion  on  your  toe  might  be  relieved  by  trimming 
it  with  a sharp 

Dutch  knife. 
1628 


78 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


John  Locke,  philosopher,  b.  a.  d.  1632. 

A lock  on  knowledge  could  not  keep  out  an  inquiring 

Dutchman. 

1632 


Sir  Isaac  Newton  b.  a.  d.  1642. 

A new  town  hall  would  make  the  asseniblies  of  the  old 

Adjourn. 

i6z|2 

Wm.  Penn  b.  a.  d.  1644. 

Will  a pen  be  as  good  as  the  sword  to 

Teach  a warrior. 

1644 


Alexander  Pope  b.  a.  d.  1688. 

All  eggs  under  a pop  gun  would  not  make  as  much 
noise  as  a 

Dutch  fife. 
1688 


Emanuel  Swedenborg  b.  a.  d.  1688. 

A man  well  in  Sweden  could  not  be  amused  by  a 

Dutch  fife. 
1688 

Voltaire  b.  a.  d.  1694. 

A vulture  will  tear  what  cames  in  his  way  like  a 

’ Hedge  bear. 

1694 

John  Wesley,  founder  of  Wesleyan  Methodism,  b.  a. 
D.  1703. 

A Welsh  lion  might  endure  much,  if  we  do  not 
too  much 


Tax  him. 
1703 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


79 


Benjamin  Franklin  b.  a.  d.  1706. 

Be  frank  on  the  land  if  you  expect  a 

Dog  siege. 
1706 

The  illustrations  in  this  chapter  will  show  the 
manner  of  constructing  formulas  with  homophonous 
sounds  by  which  words  representing  figures  can  be 
easily  called  up.  All  these  exercises  have  an  ef- 
fect on  the  memory,  and  their  careful  study  is  of 
great  importance  to  those  who  have  defective 


memories. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


THE  ADVANTAGES  OF  MENTAL  EXERCISE. 

The  question  is  frequently  asked,  ‘‘What  are  the 
advantages  of  these  exercises  by  which  letters  are 
thrown  into  figures,  and  words  stand  for  numbers  to 
any  desirable  extent?”  In  answer  to  this  and  all 
such  questions,  it  may  be  stated  that  by  these  associ- 
ations of  letters  with  figures  and  similar  sounds  to  call 
up  another  subject  or  word,  the  memory  gains 
strength  to  a degree  that  would  scarcely  be  imagined 
before  a proper  trial  is  made. 

The  very  first  effort  to  acquire  a knowledge  of 
the  first  systematic  and  most  important  lesson  will 
give  an  exercise  to  the  mind  or  memory  that  will 
gradually  strengthen  this  important  faculty.  The 
comparison  between  letters  and  figures  as  found  on 
Page  21,  will  fix  the  lesson  on  the  memory  and  at 
the  same  time  give  strength  to  the  memory  for  fur- 
ther exercise.  In  conversation  with  an  intelligent 
lady  she  complained  of  the  loss  of  her  memory  and 
the  embarrassment  it  was  to  her.  I told  her  that  her 
memory  could  easily  be  strengthened  and  brought 
back  to  its  youthful  vigor.  She  appeared  to  be 
skeptical,  and  thought  it  impossible  to  restore  a lost 
(8o) 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


8 1 

memory.  I proposed  to  make  a trial,  and  told  her 
that  in  one  hour  she  could  learn  to  give  the  number 
of  every  word  on  Pages  34  and  25  of  this  book.  I 
directed  her  at  once  to  the  study  of  the  alphabet  on 
Page  31.  After  spending  a few  minutes  in  associat- 
ing letters  with  figures,  and  the  homophonous  sounds 
of  a combination  of  letters  as  explained  in,  the  second 
chapter,  especially  on  Pages  23  and  23,  I directed 
her  to  the  100  words  above  referred  to,  and  after  a 
brief  explanation  including  not  more  than  one  half  an 
hour,  she  was  able  to  give  the  number  immediately 
of  every  word  in  the  list  of  100  words.  On  another 
occasion  three  persons  agreed  to  make  the  experi- 
ment, and  under  my  instruction  in  a little  less  than 
one  hour  each  one  could  not  only  give  the  number 
in  the  list  of  100  words  without  a single  mistake,  but 
could  also  tell  every  number  in  connection  with  every 
word  in  the  Vllth  Chapter  of  this  book.  They  ex- 
pressed themselves  perfectly  delighted  with  the  sim- 
plicity of  the  system  and  the  entertainment  it  afford- 
ed to  the  mind. 

There  is  absolutely  no  hard  study  nor  severe 
mental  strain  required.  It  affords  a pleasant  mental 
recreation. 

The  question  is  often  asked,  “ Will  it  help  me  to 
remember  names,  or  to  recognize  a friend  after  a first 
introduction  ? ” T<^  this  we  answer,  It  will.”  The 

mere  recollection  of  numbers  and  dates  or  historical 
events,  is  only  a part  of  the  advantages  gained  by  the 
study  of  this  system.  The  exercise  of  the  memory  in 
one  direction  will  give  it  vigor  and  strength  in  every 
6 


82 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


direction.  By  this  we  learn  to  fix  the  attention  on 
anything  we  wish  to  retain.  An  impression  is  at 
once  made  on  the  tablet  of  the  memory,  and  the  im- 
pression remains  as  surely  and  indelibly  as  the  ink 
upon  the  paper  from  the  pen  or  type.  Some  who 
have  witnessed  the  marvelous  feats  of  memory  dis- 
played by  those  who  have  practically  tested  this  sys- 
tem, have  concluded  that  it  must  necessarily  require  a 
tedious  course  of  hard  study  to  become  proficient  in  it. 
This  is  not  the  case.  In  a few  hours  one  can  become 
fully  acquainted  with  the  principles  of  the  system; 
and  in  proportion  as  these  principles  are  applied  in 
exercising  the  memory,  by  so  much  the  more  will  the 
memory  gain  strength.  The  strength  of  the  memory 
will  have  a tendency  to  impart  vigor  to  the  entire 
physical  organization.  It  is  the  neglect  to  exercise 
that  enfeebles  the  noblest  faculties  of  our  nature.  No 
wonder  persons  become  restless,  sleepless  and  nerv. 
ous.  Our  higher  nature  is  suppressed  and  buried 
under  the  rubbish  and  care  for  a mere  animal  exist- 
ence, and  the  bodily  appetites  are  gratified  by  the 
luxuries  of  animal  life,  while  the  soul  is  hungry  for 
higher  enjoyments,  and  the  memory  is  ready  to 
store  away  our  accumulated  treasure  of  intellectual 
wealth,  if  we  wfill  only  make  such  repairs  and  ar- 
rangements as  will  give  this  noble  faculty  a fair 
opportunity  to  act  its  proper  part  in  the  mysterious 
operations  of  our  complex  nature. 

There  is  no  department  of  scientific  study  in  which 
this  system  may  not  be  turned  to  a good  account. 
The  minister  of  the  gospel  going  to  a new  charge 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


83 


and  among  strangers,  is  very  anxious  to  recollect 
the  members  of  his  charge,  and  often  feels  embar- 
rassed because  he  cannot  do  so  to  the  extent  of  his 
desire.  In  applying  the  rules  laid  down  in  this  work 
he  will  find  great  assistance  in  this  direction.  As 
soon  as  he  hears  the  name  let  him  associate  it  with 
some  familiar  object,  animate  or  inanimate.  Is  it 
Daniels?  Let  him  think  of  Daniel  in  the  lion’s  den; 
for  Jones,  let  him  think  of  Jonah  and  the  whale;  for 
Smith,  think  of  a blacksmith;  for  Abraham,  think  of 
a broiled  ham;  for  Fowler,  think  of  shooting  prairie 
chickens;  for  Parkhurst,  think  of  pie  crust;  for  War- 
ren, think  of  war  on  anything  wrong;  for  Miller, 
think  of  flour  and  bread ; for  Willing,  think  of  con- 
sent; for  Burns,  think  of  barns;  for  Freeman,  think 
of  a former  slave;  for  Thomas,  think  of  going  to  a 
?nass  ffieeting ; for  Stowe,  think  of  stoiHng  books; 
for  Cranston,  think  of  a grand  stone  in  a building; 
for  Bristol,  think  of  a bright  star  in  the  stellar  world. 
These  illustrations  are  given  to  show  how  objects 
may  be  associated  with  names  in  almost  endless 
variety,  by  which  names  can  be  called  up  at  pleasure. 

Again,  the  characters  of  persons  and  qualities  of 
things  may  easily  be  fixed  in  the  memory.  Daniel 
may  be  a hero  or  a coward.  The  whale  may  take  in 
a small  specimen.  The  smith  may  have  a large  shop 
or  a small  corner  with  a tack  hammer.  A broiled 
ham  may  be  good  or  bad.  A fowler  may  shoot  large 
game  in  great  quantities,  or  only  a few  snipes.  A 
pie  crust  may  be  made  of  good  material  and  repre- 
sent a generous  nature,  or  it  may  be  made  of  stale 


84 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


flour,  rancid  lard,  bad  eggs,  over  baked,  and  repre- 
sent a man  of  sour  disposition,  short,  crusty  and  ill- 
natured.  A miller  may  make  good  or  poor  flour. 
A store  may  be  filled  with  good  books  or  poor  trash. 
A grand  stone  may  be  a grindstone  to  keep  things 
sharp.  By  these  suggestions  you  see  how  one  thing 
may  be  attached  to  another,  like  you  attach  a label  to 
goods  to  be  readily  recognized  among  thousands  of 
packages.  Either  by  similarity  or  dissimilarity  we 
can  easily  learn  to  remember  things. 

To  recollect  faces,  when  you  are  introduced  to  a 
person,  fix  your  mind  upon  the  features  and  associate 
the  name  with  some  one  you  have  been  acquainted 
with,  and  associate  the  name  with  some  other  familiar 
name  or  object.  The  great  difficulty  arises  from  a 
want  of  especial  attention.  To  look  at  a person  or  to 
hear  a name  or  narrative  with  comparative  indiffer- 
ence is  a sure  way  to  forget.  For  instance:  You  are 
introduced  to  John  Smith;  you  may  immediately 
conclude  he  does  not  look  like  the  Smith  I saw  at 
such  and  such  a place,  or  he  may  look  very  much 
like  him.  In  either  case  the  association  will  enable 
you  to  call  up  the  name  when  you  see  the  person 
again.  We  use  the  name  Smith  as  a familiar  name 
for  illustration  that  will  apply  to  any  other  name. 
The  want  of  attention  and  association  makes  a de- 
fective memory,  while  especial  attention  and  the  asso- 
ciation of  one  thing  with  another  improves  the 
memory. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


DISTANCE  BY  WATER  FROM  NEW  YORK  TO  FOREIGN 
PORTS. 

Alexandria,  Egypt,  5,095. 

All  eggs  from  the  country  of  the  Nile  would  make  a 

Loose  pile. 

5.095 

Amsterdam,  Holland,  3,530. 

A 7naster  dam  across  a stream  could  not  keep  away 

A mill  mouse. 

3.530 

Bermudas,  West  Indies,  680. 

Burn  meadows  among  savages  and  you  will  scare 
the  Chiefs. 

680 

Bombay,  India,  1 1,555. 

Boo?n  away  with  your  bomb  shells  and  show  your- 
self Totally  loyal. 

11.555 

Bordeaux,  France,  3,334. 

Burdocks  have  burrs  that  stick  to  any  clothes  accord- 
ing to  the  best  of  My  memory. 

3.334 


86 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Brussels,  Belgium,  3,418. 

Bruise  eels  to  death  and  you  stop  then  forever  from 
having  a Merry  dive. 

3418 

Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Africa,  6,840. 

Keep  in  good  hopes ^ and  from  all  the  flowers  you 
look  for,  you  may  find  the  Chief  rose. 

6,840 

Cape  Horn,  South  America,  7,000. 

A cap  on  a horn  would  be  as  singular  as  a cap  on  a 
tail,  and  both  would  be  insufficient  to  warm  a 

Case  icy. 
7,000 

Constantinople.  Turkey,  5,154. 

A constant  trader  in  staple  goods  should  not  be  a 

Low  dealer. 

5.15+ 

Copenhagen,  Denmark,  3,650. 

To  cope  with  hunger  would  not  be  so  bad  if  we  were 
not 

Mushless. 

3.650 

Calcutta,  India,  13,510. 

Cold  cats  will  freeze  if  you  put  them  in  a cold 

Wooden  lighthouse. 

12,510 

Canton,  China,  14,105. 

Can  towns  be  made  to  prosper  where  merchandise 
have  a 

Tardy  sale. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


87 


Gibraltar,  Spain,  3,290. 

A gib  and  not  a halter  will  suit  the  runaway  sailor 
when  he  sees  a Man  pass. 

3^290 


Glasgow,  Scotland,  2,934. 

A glass  blower  steady  at  his  work  is  No  bummer, 

2,934 

Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  563. 

A hill  fox  will  escape  from  the  hounds  unless  you 
get  near  enough  to  Lash  him. 

563 

Havana,  Cuba,  i ,275. 

Have  any  of  your  threads  been  found  in  a 

Tangle. 

L275 


Lima,  Peru,  11,312. 

Limar  beans  would  make  a nice  dish  for  a 

Tidy  maiden. 
11,312 


Lisbon,  Portugal,  3,184. 

Lizzids  bonnet  did  not  suit  her  and  it  had  to  be 

Made  over. 
3.184 


London,  England,  3,376. 

Alone  down  in  a hovel  in  this  great  city  might  make  a 

Home  mawkish. 


3.376 

Liverpool,  England,  3,080. 

To  live  and  full  through  danger 

May  save  us. 
3,080 


88 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Madras,  British  India,  11,840. 

Meadow  grass  in  swamps  would  not  make  a 

Tide  furious. 
1 1 ,840 

Naples,  Italy,  4,327. 

No  a^fles  for  an  Italian  fruit  peddler  would  make 
him  as  stubborn  as  an  old  Roman  neck. 

4^327 

Pekin,  China,  15,325. 

A pecking  hen  might  scare  a little  Chinaman,  but 
not  an  American  Tall  manly* 

15^325 

St.John,  Newfoundland,  785. 

St.  yohn  found  land  enough  to  travel  over,  but  in 
his  race  was  a 

Weak  fellow. 

785 

St.  Petersburg,  Russia,  4,432. 

St.  Peter  does  not  want  a follower  of  his  teaching  to 
be  a 

Rear  man. 

4432 

Sandwich  Islands,  7,150. 

The  sand  which  is  scorched  by  the  burning  sun 
makes  the  air  so  hot  that  a man  can  go 

Coatless. 

7.150 

San  Francisco,  California,  18,843. 

Send  PranPs  sister  to  the  man  on  a 

Tough  farm. 
18,843 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


89 

Shanghai,  China,  14,510. 

High  shanks  could  not  be  exchanged  for 

Dear  lots. 
14,510 

Stockholm,  Sweden,  4,075. 

A stocking  with  a hole  does  not  make  the  wearer  a 

Rascal. 

4.075 

Valparaiso,  Chili,  4,813. 

A valiant  prisoner  on  the  wrong  side  of  a question 
could  not 

Refute  me. 
4»Si3 

Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  2,185. 

Very  curious  that  this  old  city  is 

Not  full. 
2,185 

Vienna,  Austria,  4,095. 

Why  any  people  should  be  hungry  if  they  can  find 
a large 

R ice  pile, 

4.095 

Yokohama,  Japan,  7,533. 

Vou  come  home  from  heathen  lands  and  you  may 
have  a 

Clean  home. 

7.523 

Reading  these  formulas  over  a few  times  so  as  to 
recollect  the  distance  of  each  place  named  in  the 
above  list.  This  affords  a pleasant  and  amusing 
exercise  for  the  student  in  mental  gymnastics. 


CHAPTER  XIIL 


MISCELLANEOUS  HOMOPHONOUS  FORMULAS, 
GIVING  NUMBERS. 


INTERESTING  BIBLE  FACTS. 

The  Bible  contains  3,566,480  letters. 

By  a bill  we  might  secure  a 

Militia  watcher  office. 

3,566,480 

It  contains  773,765  words. 

The  word  is 

Go,  come  casually. 

It  contains  31,173  verses. 

Far  sees  the  hunter  who  expects 

Immediate  game. 

3bi73 

It  contains  1,139  chapters. 

The  chap  tears  his  hands  if  he  attempts  to  scrub 

Without  a mop. 

i>i39 

“And”  occurs  46,277  times. 

Andrew  was  not  in  haste  when  he  made  his 

Irish  nag  walk. 
46,277 


(90) 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY, 


‘‘  Lord  ” occurs  1,855  times. 
The  Lord  den:jands  our 


9^ 


Youthful  will. 


LENGTH  OF  SOME  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  RIVERS  OF 
THE  WORLD, 

Rhine,  in  Europe,  960  miles. 

Rye  in  leaky  vessels  will  run  out  unless  you  put  on 

Patches. 

960 

Colorado,  N.  A.,  1,060  miles. 

Collar  a doe  and  her  mate  may  give  you  a 

Dizzy  chase. 
1,060 

Columbia,  N.  A.,  1,200  miles. 

Column  by  column  would  be  useless  if  made  like  a 

Wooden  ice  house. 

1,200 

Don,  Europe,  1,300  miles. 

Done  and  finished.  It  bears  its  freight  like 

Tame  asses. 
1,300 

Amur,  Asia,  1,500  miles. 

A mere  river  is  of  more  importance  to  commerce 
flian  a Tall  Swiss. 

1,500 

Red  River,  N.  A.,  1,600  miles. 

A red  rover^  like  an  Indian,  would  eat  his  game 
and  never  look  for  Dish  sauce. 

1,600 


92 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Danube,  Europe,  1,725  miles. 

Dan^you  be  careful  with  your  bare  feet;  you  might 
tramp  on  a 

Tack  nail. 

1.725 


Rio  Grande,  N.  A.,  1,800  miles. 

Rye  or  grain  of  any  kind  might  make  the  specu- 
lator appear  to  have 

Two  faces. 
1 ,800 


Arkansas,  N.  A.,  2,000. 

Are  kanes  when  young  and  tender  good  to  eat  with 

Wine  sauces. 
3,000 


St.  Lawrence,  N.  A.,  2,200. 

Low  rents  for  saints  and  you  will  hear 

No  noises. 
3,200 


Mackenzie,  N.  A.,  3,300  miles. 

Mike  can  see  many  dears  along  this  river,  but 

No  misses. 
3,300 


Congo,  Africa,  3,400  miles. 

Ton  can  go  diwA  join  the  great  Bishop  Taylor,  but 
in  that  far-off  land  you  may  find 

No  roses. 
2,400 


Niger,  Africa,  3,000  miles. 

A nigro  might  sail  down  this  river  and  turn  his 
craft  to 


Misuses. 

3,000 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


93 


Missouri,  N.  A.,  3,000  miles. 

Misery  often  follows  Misuses. 

3,000 


Amazon,  S.  A.,  3,750  miles. 

Amazing^  said  the  tippler  to  his  friend,  you  have  taken 

My  glass. 

3.75^ 


Mississippi,  N.  A.,  3,160  miles. 

Miss  is  sifting  your  broth  and  leaves  you  noth- 
ing but 

Meat  ashes. 
3,160 


Nile,  Africa,  5,100  miles. 

No  ill  can  come  to  one  who  has  remedy  for 

All  diseases. 
5,100 


COMPARATIVE  POPULATION  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL 
COUNTRIES  OF  THE  WORLD. 


Austria,  Hungary,  37,741,434. 

An  oyster  hungry  man  might 

Make  a krout  rhymei. 


37.741434 

France,  46,922,048. 

Franks  if  you  have  fears,  keep  your 

War  ship  in  nice  reef. 

46,922,048 


German  Empire,  45,234,061. 

Cheer  a 7nan  who  has  arisen  so  high  that  he  can 

Rule  no  more  as  shoddy. 


94 


LESSONS  ON  M^IMORY. 


United  States,  50,155,783. 

A statesinan  meeting  his  foe  would 

Always  ideally  cuff  him. 

5o,i55>783 

Empire  of  Russia,  100,372,560. 

Rush  in  and  ask  the  Emperor’s  chief  man  if  he 

Does  his  home  canal  choose. 

100,372,560 

Empire  of  Great  Britain,  253,521,755. 

A great  bright  one  is  the  queen  whose  empire  has 

No  lame  land  galley  law. 

253,521,755 

Chinese  Empire,  434,600,000. 

China  ware  is  used  by  all  nations  where 

Rumor  chooses  essays. 

434,600,000 

COMPARATIVE  HEIGHT  OF  SOME  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL 
SPIRES  IN  THE  WORLD. 


Cathedral  of  Cologne,  Germany,  511  feet. 

Catharine  called  on  her  friends  on 

Lady  day. 

St.  Stephen’s,  Vienna,  Austria,  470  feet. 

Send  Stephen  away  in  to  oversee  the 

Workhouse. 


470 


Strasburg,  Germany,  468  feet. 

Strawberries  are  a choice  fruit,  but  for  a lawyer 
would  not  be  a Rich  fee. 


468 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY, 


95 


St.  Peter’s,  at  Rome,  448  feet. 

Send  Peter  to  the  top  of  this  steeple  when  the  air  is 
so  light  you  need  want  it  to  Rarefy. 

448 

Notre  Dame,  Antwerp,  Belgium,  442  feet. 

Not  to  me  nor  to  thern^  but  to  the  old  hero  that  is 

% 

Warworn. 

442 

St.  Paul’s,  London,  England,  365  feet. 

Send  Paul  up  in  a London  fog  and  you  might  give 

Him  a chill. 

365 

Hotle  de  Ville,  Brussels,  Belgium,  364  feet. 

A hotel  in  a village  may  be  kept  by  a 

Major. 

364 

Trinity  church,  N.  Y.,  United  States,  284  feet. 

Pry  on  a tie  of  silk,  for  we  have 

No  fur. 
284 

NUMBERS  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  CREEDS  OF  THE 
WORLD. 

As  it  is  difficult  to  form  words  to  represent  so 
many  ciphers  as  are  required  to  express  millions, 
the  letter  M is  added  to  indicate  million  and  to  aid 
the  memory. 

Parsees,  principally  in  Asia,  1,000,000. 

Par  sees  the  man  who  looks  into  the  sky  without  a 

Hat. 


96 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Jews,  7 M. 

A yew  is  as  well  satisfied  under  his  own  vine  and  fig 
tree  as  under  an 


Oak. 
7 M. 

Brahminical  Hindoo^s,  I20  M. 

Broom  in  a celL  The  want  of  it  I Witness. 

120  M. 


Mohammedans,  122  M. 

More  ho7ne  fnaidens  might  tell  what  room  to 

Dine  in. 
122  M. 


Aboriginal  tribes,  227  M. 

An  arbor  in  general  is  much  better  than 

No  awning. 
227  M. 

Christians,  388  M.  < 

A Christian  once  established  in  his  faith  will  not 
often 


Move  off. 
388  M. 

Buddhists,  Shintos,  and  followers  of  Confucius,  482  M. 
Buds  shine  before  they  open  into  bloom  if  not 
nipped  by  a 

Raven* 
482  M^ 


The  foregoing  illustrations  will  enable  the  student 
of  this  system  to  construct  formulas  by  which  dates 
and  numbers  may  easily  be  fixed  in  the  memory. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


THE  LATCH-STRING  TO  MEMORY’S  STOREHOUSE. 

“You  will  find  the  latch-strings  out  at  my  house,” 
was  a common  expression  among  the  early  settlers  of 
this  country  who  lived  in  log  cabins,  and  the  only 
fastening  they  had  to  their  doors  was  a latch  inside, 
to  which  a string  was  fastened,  and  a small  hole  in 
the  door  through  which  the  string  was  passed  to  the 
outside.  A pull  at  the  string  would  lift  the  latch  and 
open  the  door,  and  drawing  the  string  to  the  inside 
was  equivalent  to  bolting  the  door.  The  expression, 
“You  will  find  the  latch-string  out,”  was  the  same  as 
saying,  “You  can  come  into  my  house  whenever  you 
see  proper  to  do  so.”  Now  we  invite  you  to  pull  the 
latch-string  of  memory’s  storehouse,  and  walk  in  and 
see  the  beautiful  arrangement  this  storekeeper  has,  to 
put  everything  in  its  proper  place,  and  how  readily 
everything  can  be  found  and  recognized  as  the  very 
identical  thing  you  have  been  looking  for.  The  pro- 
cess by  which  you  find  the  string,  and  open  the  door 
is  so  simple  and  easy,  that  any  one  can  do  it.  Some 
have  been  friglitened  from  studying  these  memory 
lessons,  under  the  impression  that  it  required  some 
terrible  effort  of  the  mind,  similar  to  solving  some 
great  mathematical  problem,  so  that  instead  of  mak- 

(97) 


98 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


ing  the  effort,  they  have  turned  away  with  the  idea 
that  they  could  never  comprehend  the  mysterious 
problem.  Now  we  will  endeavor  to  convince  you 
that  there  is  nothing  mysterious  or  difficult  about  it. 

It  is  as  simple  as  the  alphabetical  arrangement  of 
letter  boxes  in  a postoffice,  or  as  going  into  a well- 
regulated  house,  where  the  lady  of  the  house  can 
point  to  every  piece  of  furniture,  every  picture  on  the 
wall,  and  call  them  all  by  name;  or  find  every  article 
of  clothing,  and  everything  in  its  proper  place  in  the 
kitchen  and  cooking  department. 

Surely  this  does  not  require  hard  study,  but  simply 
a system  of  orderly  arrangement  which  soon  be- 
comes a pleasure  instead  of  a burdensome  task. 

It  is  the  office  of  the  memory  to  keep  a place  for 
everything  and  everything  in  its  proper  place,  so 
marked  on  the  tablet  of  the  memory  as  to  designate 
it  by  its  name  or  its  nature  at  any  time. 

This  system  of  memory  culture  does  not  propose 
to  enable  any  one  by  some  magic  or  mysterious 
bound,  immediately  to  pass  from  a defective  memory 
to  a good  memory.  This  would  be  unreasonable. 
We  only  propose  to  give  rules  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  memory  whicli,  if  carefully  followed, 
will  certainly  lead  to  this  desirable  result. 

Some  have  evidently  procured  the  first  edition  of 
this  book — Mental  Gymnastics — under  the  mis- 
taken idea  that  they  would  only  have  to  read  the 
book  through  and  immediately  find  themselves  in  t!ie 
possession  of  a good  memory. 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  received  on  this 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


99 


subject  show  how  erroneous  the  views  of  some  are 
in  reference  to  this  matter.  A minister  of  the  Gospel, 
who  had  the  lirst  edition,  writes:  have  read  your 

book  through,  and  do  not  see  that  I can  recollect  my 
sermons  or  lectures  any  better  now  than  I could 
before  I read  the  book.” 

An  attorney  at  law  writes:  ‘‘I  thought  by  reading 
your  book  I would  find  the  secret  of  retaining  in  my 
memory  everything  pertaining  to  my  profession ; but 
my  memory  is  no  better  now  than  it  was  before  I 
read  the  book.” 

These  are  specimens  of  numerous  letters  received 
on  this  subject  from  those  who  had  the  first  edition. 

The  object  is  to  give  plain  directions  for  the 
gradual  and  successful  training  of  the  memory,  and 
to  strengthen  it  by  such  a process  of  exercise  as  not  to 
become  wearisome  nor  exhausting  to  the  mental 
faculties. 

In  the  act  of  calling  up  one  thing  by  comparing  it 
with  some  other  and  more  familiar  thing,  we 
strengthen  this  noble  and  too  often  neglected  faculty 
of  the  human  soul. 

Pei  sons  have  frequently  told  me  that  they  could 
not  recollect  anything,  and  these  same  persons  on  a 
single  trial,  in  a few  minutes,  would  commit  to  mem- 
ory the  alphabetical  arrangement  of  letters  represent- 
ing  figures  on  page  21.  If  we  can  only  get  our  ideas 
down  to  the  extreme  simplicity  of  the  process,  we 
find  an  easy  task  before  us.  When  I commence  with 
my  pupils,  I tell  them  that  they  can  certainly  recollect 
that  o,  or  cipher,  represents  zero,  and  when  standing 


lOO 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


alone  represents  nothing;  and  when  it  is  added  to 
the  figure  i it  makes  lo,  and  so  on  through  all  the 
figures  from  i to  9. 

The  sound  of  z or  s always  represents  o.  The 
small  printed  t certainly  looks  like  the  figure  i.. 
Now  this  you  cannot  forget.  The  small  printed  n 
has  two  strokes,  and  this  represents  the  figure  2. 
Now  here  the  memory  retains  the  comparison, 
t,  1,  n,  2,  Again,  the  letter  m has  three  strokes,  and 
represents  3.  The  r is  the  last  letter  of  the  word 
four,  and  always  represents  the  figure  4.  Now 
repeat  this  over  a few  times  and  you  have  it  com- 
pletely fixed  in  the  memory. 

Then  proceed  to  the  letter  1.  This,  in  the  Roman 
numeration  represents  50,  but  you  leave  off  the  o, 
and  you  have  5.  Now  repeat  a number  of  times  over, 

1 for  5,  and  you  will  soon  have  it  fixed  in  your 
memory  to  remain.  Next  take  the  letter  j,  and  it 
this  is  reversed,  we  have  a resemblance  to  the  figure 
6.  Now  repeat  it  in  the  same  way. 

The  k when  turned  upside  down  resembles  the 
figure  7,  and  it  also  looks  like  a key  when  upside 
down.  Here  you  have  a picture  of  the  figure  7. 

The  figure  8 looks  like  an  elongated  written  f, 
and  therefore  f represents  8.  The  p reversed  resem- 
bles the  figure  9,  and  therefore  always  represents  9. 

Now  turn  to  pages  22  and  23  and  read  and  study 
carefully  what  is  said  there  in  reference  to  phonetic 
Sounds. 

Tiiese  rules  being  understood  it  will  be  an  easy 
matter  to  give  the  numbers  of  every  word  on  pages 
24  and  25. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


lOI 


Remember  the  vowels  and  the  letters,  h,  w and  y 
have  no  numerical  value. 

The  student  will  now  he  prepared  to  give  the  num- 
bers standing  before  the  words  in  Chapters  VII.  and 
VIII.  When  these  are  well  understood,  then  the 
formulas  in  the  different  chapters  may  be  studied, 
and  the  learner  will  soon  be  able  to  construct  forms 
of  words  and  sentences  so  as  to  represent  numbers, 
and  this  habit  once  formed  will  enable  one  to  retain 
any  desirable  number  of  figures  in  the  memory. 

The  question  is  frequently  asked,  ‘‘What  is  the 
advantage  of  all  this  process  of  fixing  numbers  and 
figures  in  the  memory?”  To  this  we  reply:  When 
memory  is  strengthened  in  one  direction,  it  gains 
equal  strength  in  every  direction.  If  you  ask  the  in- 
valid with  feeble  limbs  and  debilitated  muscles  why 
he  engages  in  physical  gymnastics,  he  will  tell  you 
that  this  gives  him  strength  to  labor  at  anything  he 
may  wish  to  undertake.  Exercise,  if  not  too  violent 
and  exhausting,  gives  strength  to  body  and  mind. 
But  this  exercise  must  be  well  and  carefully  directed, 
and  especially  so  in  mental  processes.  A confusion 
of  ideas  may  crowd  the  mind,  and  without  a sys- 
tematic arrangement  to  store  away  everything  in  its 
proper  place,  the  result  would  be  similar  to  throwing 
all  kinds  of  goods  and  wares  into  one  common  pile 
where  everything  would  be  in  confusion  and  nothing 
could  be  found,  only  as  a mere  matter  of  accident  or 
chance.  It  is  this  confusion  of  our  thoughts;  this 
want  of  a proper  classification  that  has  such  an  injuri- 
ous effect  upon  our  physical  nature  in  advanced  years 


103 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


that  brings  on  premature  decay,  and  contributes  much 
toward  increasing  the  infirmities  of  old  age. 

Keep  the  latch-string  of  your  memory’s  storehouse 
out.  Invite  deposits  from  every  direction;  mark  and 
label  these  deposits.  Place  them  so  that  you  can  find 
them  at  a moment’s  notice.  The  vigor  of  your 
memory  will  add  vigor  to  your  physical  man- 
hood and  womanhood.  It  will  help  to  smooth  the 
wrinkles  of  the  furrowed  bi'ow  and  drive  away  the 
gloomy  forebodings  that  often  hang  like  a spectral 
cloud  over  the  horizon  of  our  vision  as  we  are  ad- 
vancing in  years. 

I have  myself  received  incalculable  benefits  from 
this  memory  culture,  and  that  which  I have  realized 
in  my  own  case,  may  be  obtained  by  others.  It  is» 
however,  difficult  to  make  some  people  understand 
that  this,  as  all  other  mental  improvements,  is  a mat- 
ter of  gradual  growth.  The  law  of  association  by 
which  we  call  to  mind  some  things  by  their  similar- 
ity to  other  things  may  be  so  studied  and  practiced 
that  almost  anything  can  be  remembered  by  an  asso- 
ciation with  some  similar  thing.  See  Chapter  XL, 
page  8o.  Carefully  study  this  chapter. 

Some  of  the  letters  received  from  persons  who 
have  purchased  the  book  plainly  indicate  that  they 
have  not  read  the  instructions  it  contains.  Perhaps 
after  reading  a few  pages  they  concluded  that  by 
some  magical  process  their  memory  should  at  once 
be  capable  of  retaining  the  contents  of  a sermon  or  a 
lecture. 

The  following  letter  is  one  among  many  of  a 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY.  I03 

similar  kind  showing  how  little  attention  is  given  to 
the  plain  rules  laid  down  for  the  gradual  improve- 
ment of  the  miemory.  The  writer  says:  “I  pur- 
chased one  of  your  books  on  Mental  Gymnastics. 
I do  not  seem  to  comprehend  it.  I cannot  see  how 
by  taking  the  words  and  figures  I can  remember  a 
sermon  or  a lecture,  or  remember  what  I read.  I 
cannot  see  what  connection  there  is  in  ''Somerville^ 
Mass.,  21,929  and  some  are  well^  in  places  where 
they  could  not  hob  nob  21,929.’  ” 

Now  if  the  person  asking  the  above  question,  had 
read  the  remarks  at  the  commencement  of  Chapter 
IX,,  page  57,  he  would  have  seen  that  these  formulas 
are  given  to  exercise  the  memory  to  give  it  strength, 
not  only  by  the  law  of  association,  but  by  homopho- 
netic  sounds  as  well. 

For  instance,  we  wish  to  recollect  the  number  of 
inhabitants  in  the  town  of  Somerville,  Mass.  We 
look  for  some  word  or  phrase  that  sounds  like  Som- 
erville; and  we  write  ^'‘Some  are  welV''  Now  is  there 
not  a sufficient  similarity  between  So7nerville  and 
some  are  %vell  so  that  when  you  hear  one  you  can 
call  up  the  other,  and  the  effort  to  do  so  gives  a good 
exercise  to  the  memory.  To  recollect  the  number  of 
inhabitants  you  select  a sentence  to  which  you  can 
attach  a word  that  gives  you  the  number  without  the 
chance  of  a mistake.  Hence  the  phrase  some  are 
well^  in  places  where  they  could  not  hob  nob. 

Now  the  words  not  hob  nob  gives  the  number 
21,929.  An  effort  to  commit  these  phrases  to  mem- 
ory will  gradually  strength  the  memory  and  enlarge 
its  capacity  in  every  direction. 


104 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


Again,  some  of  my  correspondents  have  asked  how 
to  memorize  the  numbers  of  the  lines  in  The  Cata- 
ract of  Lodore^  page  32. 

This  is  easily  done  by  the  law  of  association.  The 
following  is  an  illustration  in  connection  with  the  100 
words  and  numbers  on  page  24  and  35  to  number  70: 

1.  Hat,  a fine  silk  hat  sparkles — 

2.  Honey  lies  darkling  in  the  beehive. 

3.  Home  chimney  smoking — at  home. 

4.  Hero  causes  tumult  in  war. 

5.  Hill  hastens  down  from  the  hill,  along — 

6.  Hush  your  striking  and  raging — 

7.  Hack  will  carry  you  from  the  waging  war. 

8.  Hoof  of  the  horse  among  caverns  and  locks. 

9.  Hip  and  this  makes  him  leap. 

10.  Woods,  you  may  sink  or  creep  through  wood. 

11.  Tide  swelling  tide  will  fling  things. 

12.  Tin  cans  are  used  for  showering  plants. 

13.  Tame  things  will  not  run  back  in  eddies. 

14.  Deer  a deer  may  be  sporting  and  frisky. 

15.  A dale  among  hills  may  turn  and  twist. 

16.  Dish,  a dish  of  fruit  may  turn  and  twist,  pass 
around  and  around. 

17.  Deck,  on  deck  of  a war  ship  there  will  be 
collecting. 

18.  Dove  may  rebound  from  its  fall  when  shot. 

:(.  Top.  The  smiting  and  fighting  man  on  top. 

20.  News  if  good  is  what  we  delight  in. 

21.  Want  of  things  are  confounding  and  as- 
tounding. 

22.  None  need  be  dizzy  if  at  a distance. 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


105 

23.  Name  a man  Read  and  give  him  speed, 

24.  Near  danger  is  shocking, 

35.  Nail  keep  things  from  parting, 

26.  Inch  of  thread  cannot  spread — 

27.  Ink  and  pen  may  cause  a hissing. 

28.  Knife  cut  into  a cup  of  water  causes  dripping. 

39.  A nap  may  be  brightening  to  the  sleepy. 

30.  A mouse  wet  may  be  quivering  and  shivering. 

31.  A mouth  cannot  be  used  for  hitting  and 
splitting. 

32.  A man  should  not  seek  to  be  shine  nor 
twining. 

33.  A mummy  may  rattle  but  cannot  be  battling. 

34.  Merry  men  are  neither  shaking  nor  quaking, 

35.  Mill  will  run  by  water  pouring  and  roaring. 

36.  Match-making  requires  neither  waving  nor 
raving. 

37.  Make  a tossing  at  the  crossing. 

38.  Move  the  flowing  keep  the  growing. 

39.  Map-makers  are  often  running  and  stunning. 

40.  Horse  in  a hurry  but  not  scurrilous. 

41.  A road  is  not  glittering  or  flattering. 

42.  Rain  from  gathering  and  feathering  clouds. 

43.  Room  for  dinning  and  spinning. 

44.  A warrior  may  be  foaming  and  roaming. 

45.  A railway  be  dropping  and  a frog  hopping. 

46.  An  Irishman  at  work  may  give  a jerk. 

47.  A rock  may  be  heaving  before  cleaving. 

48.  A roof  is  not  a suitable  place  when  thun- 
dering. 

49.  A harp  may  send  a little  fellow  sprawling. 


io6 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


50.  A lass  may  go  driving — 

51.  A lady  sprinkling — 

52.  xA  lawn  may  have  sounding  boards. 

53.  An  elm  tree  near  which  a spring  is  bubbling. 

54.  A lawyer  may  be  diving  into  matters — 

55.  A lily  in  the  pond  may  make  men  grumble  — 

56.  A lash  may  make  a clattering — 

57.  An  elk  with  smooth  hours  may  be  gleaning — 

58.  A loaf  may  make  the  hungry  go  rushing — 

59.  A leap  may  cause  flapping — 

60.  A cheese  is  made  round  by  whirling — 

61.  Shoot  before  heating  and  retreating — 

62.  A chain  may  cause  delaying — 

63.  A gem  may  cause  advancing — 

64.  A cherry  cannot  recoil  nor  turmoil — 

65.  Jelly  comes  down  thumping — 

66.  Shash  or  sash  is  worn  by  a dashing  fellow — 

67.  Cheek,  no  ending  to  cheeky  men — 

68.  Chaff  blown  from  a windmill  sounds  and 
motions. 

69.  Ship,  ships  in  the  harbor  make  an  uproar. 

70.  A kiss  does  not  come  down  in  this  way,  but 
gently  and  quietly. 

Here  the  learner  will  find  the  numerical  words 
from  I to  70  as  they  are  arranged  on  pages  34  and  25, 
and  corresponding  with  these  are  some  woids  from 
the  lines  opposite  the  numbers  which  will  enable  any 
one  to  find  the  lines  belonging  to  the  different  num- 
bers. A little  patient  and  persevering  study  will 
make  this  exercise  plain  and  interesting.  All  we 
want  is  the  word  that  serves  as  a latch -string  to  open 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY,  I07 

the  door  and  lead  us  to  the  information  we  want  on 
any  subject.  The  lessons  here  given  are  not  mere 
theories  without  demonstration;  but  these  rules  have 
been  carefully  applied  and  practiced  by  the  writer 
who  can  repeat  every  figure,  number,  and  date  of 
events  in  this  book  on  hearing  the  formulas,  and  on 
hearing  the  word  in  Chapter  VIL  and»  VIIL  will 
give  every  number  correctly  included  in  those  ten 
pages.  In  this  statement  there  is  no  exaggeration  or 
mistake. 

Any  one  of  ordinary  capacity  and  intelligence,  by 
a little  application  in  leisure  moments  will  be  able  to 
do  the  same  thing  by  following  the  plain  directions 
laid  down  in  this  book. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


FINAL  DIRECTIONS  FOR  STUDYING  MENTAL 
• GYMNASTICS. 

After  having  become  perfectly  familiar  with  the 
alphabetical  arrangement  of  the  letters  giving  num- 
bers and  the  numerical  value  of  letters  having  similar 
articulations  as  explained  on  pages  32  and  23,  it  will 
be  an  easy  matter  and  a pleasant  task  to  form  phrases 
commencing  with  a word  that  has  a sound  similar  to 
the  object  you  wish  to  remember,  and  close  with  the 
numerical  word.  For  illustration  see  Chaj^ters  XII. 
and  XIII.  The  numerical  word  is  always  placed  at 
the  end  of  the  sentence  or  phrase,  and  standing  alone 
and  below  the  line  of  the  foregoing. 

If  I were  to  write  a large  volume  I could  not 
make  the  instructions  plainer  and  more  readily  un- 
derstood. 

The  student  of  this  system  of  memory  culture 
must  banish  from  his  mind  the  idea  that  there  is 
something  mysterious  or  difficult  of  comprehension 
about  this.  It  is  a plain,  simple  process  of  strength- 
ing  this  noble  faculty  of  our  higher  manhood.  The 
only  difficulty  in  the  way  of  success  is  a too  hasty 
glance  over  the  wmrk,  and  an  equally  hasty  conclu- 
sion that  it  is  above  the  comprehension  of  common 
minds.  Study  one  thing*  after  another,  and  do  not 


LESSONS  ON  MEMORY. 


109 

attempt  to  comprehend  the  whole  subject  at  a mere 
glance. 

With  the  first  effort  in  the  lesson  on  page  21,  you 
will  find  your  memory  gradually  gaining  strength, 
and  as  you  progress  you  will  wake  up  to  a new  vigor 
of  mind  and  body. 

It  is  this  unnecessary  yielding  to  the  idea  that  be- 
cause we  are  advancing  in  years  we  must  necessarily 
break  down,  and  wither  in  body  and  mind.  Confi- 
dence in  our  ability  to  rise,  in  a good  degree,  over 
th.e  wasting  influences  of  time  will  give  us  new 
strength,  and  have  a tendency  to  prolong  our  earthly 
existence. 

We  do  not  claim  to  have  found  the  secret  of  per- 
petual youth,  but  we  do  claim,  most  emphatically, 
to  have  discovered  a mental  process,  which  if  adopted 
and  followed  out  according  to  these  instructions,  will 
add  years  full  of  comfort  and  enjoyment  to  our 
earthly  existence. 

Objections  are  frequently  urged  by  those  who  have 
not  carefully  studied  the  subject.  We  are  sometimes 
told  that  it  is  as  difficult  to  remember  these  formulas 
and  rules  as  to  remember  anything  without  them. 

To  this  we  reply.  That  the  law  of  association,  or 
of  comparing  one  thing  with  another,  or  calling  to 
mind  one  thing  by  recollecting  something  that  resem- 
bles it  in  sound  or  form,  will  give  strength  to  the 
memory  and  will  so  impress  it  that  it  is  not  easily 
forgotten.  See  illustration  on  page  44. 


TESTIMONIAL'S. 


The  following  testimonials  will  show  how  this  work  has  been 
appreciated  by  those  who  are  competent  to  judge  on  this  sub- 
ject; 

Mental  Gymnastics;  or  Lessons  on  Memory.  By  Adam 
Miller,  M.  D.,  auihor  of  “ Life  in  Other  Worlds,”  *'•  Plain 
Talk  to  the  Sick,”  ‘‘Mistakes  of  Doctors,”  “ Laconography,” 
etc.  Price,  $1.00 

As  the  title  implies,  this  book  is  designed  to  sugge.-t  and 
illustrate  methods  by  which  w'hat  the  author  justly  calls  “the 
noble  faculty  of  memory  ’’  may  be  strengthened  and  improved 
in  its  processes.  The  system  is  of  such  a nature  as  not  to  be 
understood  from  any  such  brief  account  of  it  as  we  can  give 
liere.  Dr.  Miller  will  forward  his  book  by  mail  to  any  per&on 
sending  him  the  price,  and  accompany  it  with  wTitten  instruc 
tions,  which  furnish  a guide  iii  its  use.  The  system  employed 
avails  itself  of  that  power  of  associating  ideas  which  is  one  of 
those  properties  of  the  mind  of  which  every  one  must  be  more 
or  less  conscious  To  w'hat  extent  this  can  be  used  as  a disci- 
pline and  help  to  the  memory,  we  ourselves  have  leari:ed, 
somewhat,  by  experience.  Dr.  Miller  is  one  of  those  men  w ho 
take  delight  in  bringing  recondite  things  to  the  surface,  and  in 
making  obscure  tilings  plain.  Whatever  of  success  he  achieves 
in  his  present  undertaking  to  that  end  and  in  giving  help  and 
stimulus  to  memory  'where  it  needs  discipline,  wdll  be  a leal 
beriefit  to  those  who  may  enjoy  his  instructions. — The  Standard. 

Dr.  Adam  IMii’er,  a W'  H-l^uown  and  venerable  member  of 
the  medical  profession  m this  cdy,  has  just  published  a little 
work  en  iiled  ‘Mental  GymnastiC',  or  Le-i-ous  on  Jilemory  ” 
He  does  not  claim  to  have  originated  an  entirely  new-  system  < f 
mnemon'es,  but  does  claim  to  have  simplified  some  oi  the  old 
and  complex  systems,  and  by  arranging  new  and  01  iginal  for- 
mulas, lo  h.av  ' brought  the  subjec  t within  the  comprehension 
of  ord  nary  minds,  'i  he  Doctor  is  himselt  a convincing  witness 
of  the  us.  fulne.-s  and  value  of  his  system  of  memory  culture, 
and,  thou  d)  he  has  passed  the  yfifh  mile.‘«tone  in  his  life’s  pil- 
grimage, his  memory  is  much  stronger  and  more  reliable  than 
it  was  in  ita  earlier  years — the  result,  he  claims,  of  the  training- 
recommended  in  the  pages  of  his  book.  Teachers,  and  persons 
of  defective  memory,  will  examine  Dr.  Miller’s  treatise  wdth 
iidere&t. — Chicairo  Event  no-  Journal. 

(1 10) 


TESTIMONIALS. 


I I 1 

Mental  Gymnastics. — fiy  Adam  Miller,  M.  D.,  Chicago. 
This  is  a thin  volume  of  112  pages,  neatly  printed  and  bound. 
It  is  a careful  study  of  mnemonics  by  improved  methods,  so 
simple  and  easy  as  to  be  easily  understood.  The  author,  an 
old  man,  claims  to  have  a memory  more  to  be  trusted  by  train- 
ing under  this  system  than  even  while  he  was  joung.  He 
starts  out  with  the  proposition,  which  is  undoubtedly  true,  that 
“the  rnemory  is  more  susceptible  to  improvement  by  proper 
exercise  and  training  than  the  body.  It  is  that  which  possesses 
the  body  and  is  destined  to  survive  its  final  dissolution  and 
decay.  The  dweller  in  the  house  is  more  important  than  the 
hou  e,  so  the  mind  of  man,  of  which  memory  is  a part,  is  < f 
more  importance  than  the  body  in  which  it  dwells.” — Chicago 
lyiter-Ocean. 

The  Rev.  John  O.  Foster,  pastor  of  Sheffield  avenue  M.  E. 
Church,  after  a lecture  was  delivered  at  his  church,  says: 
“ Tlie  audience  was  much  pleased,  and  said  so  by  a rising  vote 
of  commendation.  The  Doctor  has  something  new  and  val- 
uable” 

Tlie  well-known  philanthropist,  Mrs.  Annie  Wittenmyer, 
says:  “ It  was  my  privilege  to  hear  a lecture  by  Dr.  Adam 
Miller  on  Mental  Gymnastics,  and  I was  surprised  and  pleased 
at  his  wonderful  power  in  handling  numbers  under  his  simple 
system  of  mental  culture.” 

Mental  Gymnastics,  or  Lessons  on  Memory,  by  Adam 
Miller,  M.  D.  In  1847  the  Doctor,  then  a very  vigorous 
preacher,  visited  Boston  and  preached  in  a number  of  our 
churches  with  great  acceptance.  His  health  failing,  for  a num- 
ber of  years  he  has  been  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  is, 
withal,  a diligent  and  thoughtful  student  in  certain  lines  of 
intellectual  investigation.  He  has  invented  a new  grammar  of 
memory — a process  of  intellectual  discipline  in  the  u?.e  of  ctr 
tain  mnemonics — which  he  believes  will  greatly  strengthen 
the  memory.  In  its  use,  although  he  is  now  seventy-seve-',  he 
says  his  memory  is  better  than  when  a young  man,  and  diat  he 
can  repeat  all  the  figures  of  his  book,  which  is  someth  ing 
amazing.  The  volume  is  a thin  quarto,  with  a series  of  lessons 
and  an  interesting  essay  upon  iriemory. — Zion's  Herald^  Boston^ 
Alass. 

We  cordially  commend  it  to  all  persons  of  failing  rnemorv, 
as  the  best  book  obtainable  on  that  subject. — Interior. 

“Mental  Gymnastics”  is  a curious  little  volume  of 
“ lessons  on  memory,”  by  Dr.  Adam  Miller,  of  this  city.  The 
author  emphasizes  briefly  the  value  of  a’  good  memory,  one 
which  can  be  trusted,  and  then  sets  forth  his  plan  for  cultivat- 


I 12 


TESTIMONIALS. 


ing  and  strengthening  the  memory  by  the  use  of  phonetic  and 
homophonetic  words  for  figures,  by  which  dates,  numbers,  etc., 
may  be  readily  fixed  in  the  memory,  and  when  certain  figures 
once  come  to  stand  for  sounds,  a combination  of  figures  will 
stand  for  a word  or  a combination  of  words,  etc.  The  author 
is  correct  in  holding  that  “the  cultivation  of  the  memcry  can 
only  be  accomplished  by  a systematic  effort  on  a well-defined 
course  of  instruction,”  etc.,  and  when  one  has  succeeded  in 
fixing  in  memory  the  principles  and  met  lods  of  the  author  s 
system,  he  will  have  made  an  important  advance  in  that  culti- 
vation. The  whole  system  is  founded  on  the  law  of  association, 
and  hence  is  logically  based,  since  association  lies  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  whole  process  of  remembering,  whether  consciously 
or  not.  The  author’s  method,  then,  simply  aids  i s in  getting 
control,  at  will,  of  the  agencies  unconsciously  employed  in  acts 
of  what  may  be  called  spontaneous  recollection.  It  is  a system 
at  once  ing^  nious  and  simple. — Chicago  Tunes. 

Mental  Gymnastics,  or  Lessons  on  Memory.  By  Adam 
Miller,  M.  D.  Many  and  various  have  been  the  methods  de- 
vised for  strengthening  and  aiding  the  faculty  of  memory. 
This  work  of  Dr  Mil'er’s  is  the  latest,  and  certainly  one  of  the 
most  ingenious.  To  those  having  a natural  mental  bent  toward 
association  of  ideas,  it  will  undoubtedly  be  congenial  and  help- 
ful, for  the  system  therein  set  forth  is  based  almost  entirely  on 
the  law  of  association,  and  on  this  foundation  is  built  up  into  a 
veritable  memoria  technical  or  artificial  memory. — Livuig  Church., 
Chicago. 

“Mental  Gymnastics,*’  by  Adam  Miller,  M.  D.,  is  a little 
manual  which  develops  a system  of  mnemonics.  It  aims  to 
dispense  with  a memorandum  book  by  using  instead  “the  tab- 
let of  ihe  heart.”  By  connecting  the  objects  to  be  remembered 
with  numbers,  in  a most  ingenious  and  elaborate  fashion,  it 
enables  any  one  who  familiarizes  himself  with  the  system,  to 
carry  an  immense  mass  of  digested  information,  ready  for  pro- 
duction on  demand.  By  experiment  we  have  tested  the  author’s 
mnemonic  resources  and  been  moved  by  them  to  wonder. — 
Advance.,  Chicago, 


TESTIMONIALS. 


II3 

We  could  multiply  these  favorable  notices  from  the  different 
papers  to  an  indefinite  extent,  to  prove  the  importance  of 
memory  culture.  But  all  theories  should  be  judged  by  their 
results  more  than  by  the  laudations  of  men. 

A mechanical  contrivance  that  accomplishes  the  work  for 
which  it  is  made,  is  pronounced  good  and  valuable.  A system 
of  mental  training  is  valued  in  proportion  as  it  proves  itself 
superior  to  other  systems.  No  matter  how  plausible  any  sys- 
tem may  be  in  theory,  if,  upon  a fair  trial,  it  does  not  prove 
itself  successful,  it  cannot  expect  public  favor  and  patronage. 
We  should  be  willing  to  put  any  new  theory  to  the  test  of 
fairly -conducted  experiment,  and  determine  its  value  by  its 
results.  With  this  view,  we  bring  before  the  public  this  newly- 
arranged  system  of  memory  culture,  under  the  appropriate 
name  of  “Mental  Gymnastics.” 

The  benefits  resulting  from  exercising  the  mind  on  the 
problems  laid  down  in  this  work,  are  by  no  means  confined  to 
the  mere  fact  of  having  committed  to  memory  a number  of 
words  and  figures  to  an  almost  incredible  extent : but  the  men- 
tal training  received  by  the  process  here  recommended,  will  so 
strengthen  the  memory  in  a general  way  as  to  make  it  more 
reliable  in  any  department  of  literature.  I have  frequently 
been  asked  this  question : “What  good  will  it  do  me  if  I com- 
mit to  memory  everything  in  your  book.^”  To  such  question 
I reply,  that  the  principles  there  laid  down  will  be  to  the 
memory  what  food  is  to  the  body.  The  process  of  associating 
one  object  with  another  gives  activity  to  the  mind,  and  be- 
comes an  agreeable  exercise,  without  the  severe  mental  strain 
in  solving  mathematical  problems. 

In  conversation  with  some  friends,  to  whom  I explained  the 
simplicity  of  the  process  of  fixing  numbers  in  the  memory,  I 


II4 


TESTIMONIALS. 


told  them  I could  easily  retain  in  my  memory  the  two  prob- 
lems of  the  chess  board.  The  first  was  to  move  the  knight  of 
the  chess  board  over  the  sixty-four  squares  without  going 
twice  into  the  same  square,  which  would  take  the  following 
numbers:  i,  ii,  5,  15,  32,  47,  64,  54,  60,  50,  35,  41,  26,  9,  3, 13,  7, 
24.  39.  56.  62,  45, 30,  20,  37,  22,  28,  38,  21,  36,  19,  25,  10,  4,  14,  8, 
23.  40.  55,  61, 51,  57,  42,  59,  53,  63,  48,  31,  16,  6,  12,  2, 17,  34,  49, 
43,  58,  52,  46,  29,  44,  27,  33,  18,  I.  The  second  problem  of  the 
chess  board  is  to  multiply  a grain  of  wheat,  or  geometrically 
doubling  it  upon  itself  from  the  first  square  of  the  chess  board 
down  to  the  sixty-fourth  square,  giving  in  grains  33,893,487,- 
503,174,010,930.  Grains  in  one  pound  of  good  wheat,  13,184; 
in  one  bushel,  791,040;  in  one  ton,  26,368,000.  Dividing  the 
whole  number  of  grains  by  these  different  proportions,  we 
have  in  pounds  2,570,804,573,966,475 ; in  bushels,  42,846,742,- 
899,441 ; in  tons,  1,285,402,286,983,  which  would  load  as  many 
canal  boats  at  forty-two  tons  to  each  boat  as  32,135,057,174;  or 
as  many  ships  at  three  hundred  tons  to  each  vessel  as  428,467,- 
289;  which  would  make  as  many  loaves  of  bread  at  one  pound 
each  as  2,570,804,573,966,475;  which  would  feed  the  inhabitants 
of  the  globe,  a Ilowing  the  number  to  be  i, 000,000,000,  at  one 
pound  per  day,  for  7,043  years  and  209  days. 

I have  written  the  above  calculations  from  memory,  and  by 
comparison  find  them  correct.  I can  teach  any  one  of  ordinary 
intelligence  to  do  the  same  thing  in  a few  brief  lessons,  and  to 
commit  any  desirable  number  of  figures  and  numbers  to 
memory. 

The  following  are  additional  testimonials  from  reliable 
sources. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Bolton,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church, 
Chicago,  says: 

The  undersigned  heard  Dr.  Adam  Miller  lecture  on  Mental 
Gymnastics  or  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  the  mem- 
ory, and  was  interested  to  see  him  answ’er  questions  in  figures, 


TESTIMONIALS. 


II3 

dates  and  historical  events,  and  especially  in  moving  the 
knight  of  the  chess  board  the  64  difterent  squares  without  going 
twice  into  the  same  square,  himself  knowing  nothing  about 
chess  playing,  it  was  an  effort  of  memory  cultivated  and  im- 
proved according  to  his  method. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Bolton. 

The  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Bolton  says : 

I was  both  entertained  and  profited  by  Dr.  Miller’s  lecture 
on  the  improvement  of  the  memory.  He  proved  the  efficiency 
of  his  system  by  the  wonderful  manner  in  which  he  could 
give  numbers  their  proper  places,  making  no  mistakes. 

Mrs.  H.  W.  Bolton. 

Chicago,  March  10,  1887. 

This  is  to  certify  that  I questioned  Dr.  Miller  in  reference  to 
figures,  dates  and  events  published  in  his  book,  with  a view  of 
testing  his  memory,  and  I found  his  answers  displayed  such  a 
marvelous  memory  that  I at  once  bought  one  ot  his  books  on 
Mental  Gymnastics. 

I have  known  Dr.  Miller  for  over  fifteen  years,  and  although 
he  is  now  78  years  of  age,  his  memory  is  better  to-day  than 
that  of  most  people  in  the  prime  of  life.  I think  his  system  of 
memory  culture  would  help  others  in  developing  a retentive 
memory.  S.  W.  Packard, 

Law  Office  of  S.  W.  Packard,  Borden  Block. 

We,  the  undersigned,  put  Dr.  A.  Miller  to  some  very  severe 
tests  in  reference  to  his  marvelous  memory  in  figures,  numbers, 
dates,  and  historical  events.  He  answered  our  questions 
promptly  and  appears  to  be  master  of  the  problems  in  his  book 
called  ‘‘Mental  Gymnastics.”  Dr.  Miller  claims  that  these 
lessons  are  easily  understood,  and  every  step  in  the  progress 
of  studying  them  will  improve  and  strengthen  the  memory. 
He  also  claims  that  a careful  cultivation  of  the  memory  will 
keep  up  the  vigor  and  strength  of  the  body,  and  to  a great  ex  - 
tent  restore  the  wasting  energies  incident  to  old  age. 

Chas.  C.  Hager, 

J.  E.  Hodges, 

With  Lord  & Thomas,  45  Randolph  Street. 


Laconography  or  Geometric  Shorthand. 

BY  ADAM  MILLER,  M.  D. 

Testimonials  in  favor  of  this  system : 

Rev.  Bishop  Fallows,  D.  D.,  of  the  Reformed  Episcopal 
Church,  says: 

“Although  I am  not  acquainted  with  the  use  of  any  system 
of  shorthand,  I have  no  hesitancy  in  saying,  from  what  I know 
of  Dr.  Adam  Miller,  as  an  author  and  phonographer,  and  from 
what  I have  learned  of  the  success  of  his  method  of  teaching, 
that  his  system  of  shorthand  is  worthy  the  earnest  considera- 
tion of  all  interested  in  the  art  of  Phonography.” 

“Dr.  Adam  Miller — Dear  Sir: — I have  been  taking  dic- 
tated letters  since  last  June — from  ten  to  fifty  per  day — besides 
a quantity  of  other  work.  I am  greatly  satisfied  with  your 
system  of  shorthand.  I could  not  have  done  so  well  with  the 
old  Pitman  system.  Respectfully  yours, 

H.  Brooks.” 

Mr.  Brooks  took  only  ten  lessons  and  commenced  his  work 
immediately  after  the  close  of  his  lessons. 

Rev.  Justin  A.  Smith,  D.  D.,  Editor  of  The  Standard^  says: 

“We  have  known  Dr.  Miller  many  years  as  a man  of  high 
intelligence,  and  of  thorough  integrity,  and  of  much  profes- 
sional eminence.  We  have  many  testimonials  to  the  excel- 
lence of  his  method,  enabling  beginners  in  shorthand  writing 
to  acquire  proficiency  in  a surprisingly  short  space  of  time. 
Persons  interested  may  confide  implicitly  in  Dr.  Miller’s  repre- 
sentation of  the  matter.” 

Sidney  Thomas,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Chicago  Philosophi- 
cal Society,  says : 

“I  take  pleasure  in  stating  that  I am  personally  acquainted 
with  Dr.  Adam  Miller;  that  I have  known  him  as  a member 
of  the  Philosophical  Society,  and  have  frequently  met  him 
socially,  and  1 believe  him  to  be  a gentleman  of  unquestioned 
integrity,  and  of  high  honor  as  a professional  man,  and  a man 
of  letters.” 

ii6 


I 


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